Women’s History Month started in a school district in California in 1978, as a celebration of women’s accomplishments and contributions to the world around us. This private celebration initially lasted only a week, and in February of 1980 President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the week of March 8 to be National Women’s History Week. The following year, Congress passed a resolution which officially recognized Women’s History Week as a national celebration. In a message released in honor of the first Women’s History Week (March 2-8, 1980), President Carter recognized women such as Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Tubman as leaders in the fight for equality, citing the 27th amendment.
In the following six years, 14 states had turned Women’s History Week into Women’s History Month. This, combined with efforts by the National Women’s History Project, was enough to convince Congress that the weeklong celebration should be given an entire month. March of 1987 was the first nationally-recognized Women’s History Month. Every March since then has been recognized as Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on those women who have made a difference in the world and who have paved the way for present and future women to achieve whatever goals they should want to set.
Thanks for this post on the history of Women’s History Month. You provide helpful context for thinking about where to spend time this month, as I’ve beenconsidering here: https://heart-head-hands.com/2017/03/13/blogs-i-love-reading-suggestions-for-womens-history-month/
Appreciative for this connection,
Beth