March is Women’s History Month, and March 8th marks International Women’s Day. The theme for 2024 is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” Let’s delve into the background of Women’s History Month.
Women’s History Month first emerged in March 1987. Since 1988, Congress and the President have annually issued resolutions and proclamations declaring March as Women’s History Month. The origins of Women’s History Month date back to 1978 in Santa Rosa, California when the Education Task Force of the Sonoma Country Commission on the Status of Women planned a “Women’s History Week” celebration during the week of March 8th to coincide with International Women’s Day.
At Kenwood, we celebrate many things, but Women’s History Month isn’t one of them. However, in Ms. Williams’ Spanish 3 class, she has taken steps to recognize this month. She expressed, “I don’t think Kenwood does enough to celebrate it, and I don’t know of any celebrations that take place this month here. In my class for Spanish 3, we are in a unit that includes notable figures, so we spend a day learning about Katherine Johnson, Malala, and other important women in history. We also created flyers in Spanish about International Women’s Day.”
I believe we should have a spirt week or something similar to show the significance of women and the reason we have a month dedicated to their history. Ms. William also suggested, “I think that we should have a spirit week and maybe even feature a ‘person of the day’ to celebrate notable women through history or share facts about lesser-known women. It’s important to learn about women because their works are often overlooked, and we deserve appreciation all year round.”
The month aims to remind everyone of the achievements of women across generations in our culture and society, and their importance in history. Over time, the month of March has adapted the colors purple, green and white in honor of the women who’ve paved the way and continue to do so today, likely stemming from the suffrage movement in England. Women’s History Month provides an excellent opportunity to integrate female figures into lesson plans, reflecting on their achievements and efforts toward gender equality. It prompts appreciation for pioneers who fought for women’s rights and reminds us to continually celebrate their efforts, ensuring we don’t overlook the struggles they faced and the rights we now enjoy.
A massage that captures this sentiment is, “I raise up my voice, not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard…We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.” It serves as a powerful reminder that progress for women is essential for the advancement of society as a whole. We must always remember that we are where we are today because of the tireless efforts of women throughout history. It crucial to recognize the significance of our voices and use them not only to stand up for ourselves ourselves but also to uplift and support other women.
This month, students also took the opportunity to express gratitude and recognition for the women in their lives, particularly their mothers. Messages of appreciation flooded in, emphasizing the frequently underappreciated roles mothers play. One anonymous student notes, Thank you to all the mothers in the world. They are the reason any of us are here and the work they do often goes unrecognized.” Another student expresses heartfelt gratitude, “To my mom, thank you for all that you do for me and for showing me that you care for me in a million different ways…You are the best friend I could ever ask for and I am so grateful for you.” Additionally, one student sends a message of appreciation to all women, recognizing their roles as mothers, sisters, nieces, aunts, and cousins, “To all the beautiful women, I hope you know that we appreciate you all. You guys are great!”
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