“Recognize the victories, struggles and stories of the women who have made our country what it is,” President Obama said in honor of Women’s History Month.
In the late 1970s, The Women’s History Institute at Sarah Lawrence College planned to support the nation in creating a National Women’s History Week.
By 1980, President Carter issued the first women’s history week in March to celebrate American women. Each year, new efforts were made to acknowledge women’s achievements.
In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month to honor and recognize women in the United States.
With the help of Congress and the National Women’s History Project (NWHP), founded in 1980, the role of women in history could now be recognized. The NWHP originally started to lobby congress into designating a month to recognize strong and innovative women. Now the organization expands their knowledge of the history of women throughout the entire nation.
According to Jone Johnson Lewis, women’s history expert, the purpose of Women’s History Month is to realize the contributions women have made for the United States.
“The purpose of Women’s History Month is to increase consciousness and knowledge of women’s history; to take one month of the year to remember the contributions of notable and ordinary women, in hopes that the day will soon come when it’s impossible to teach or learn history without remembering these contributions,” Lewis said.
Not only has the United States changed because of many women’s achievements, but this country has made progress since the early days of women gaining rights and opportunities similar to men. NWHP honors women of all cultures and races by acknowledging their efforts toward making the U.S. a better country. According to their organization’s website, their goal has been the same since their start.
“Today our aim is as clear and simple as it was 25 years ago: to teach as many people as possible about women’s role in history.”
Carmen Delgado Votaw, the first Hispanic female chief of staff to a member of Congress, said feminism came through her exposure of injustice with outstanding women.
“Develop your curiosity. Allow yourselves to be exposed to the challenges women have faced and the contributions they have made,” Votaw said. “It is important also that you look at career choices . . . in the science, technology, engineering and math fields. Do not be intimidated by the fact there may not be many women in those [jobs]. Go for it.”
The United Nations said it’s important to encourage the development of women and their contributions. This is what the purpose of the month is, according to NWHP. From the beginning of this monthly celebration, created a few decades ago, President Carter said not only were men the ones influencing this country, but also women.
“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation,” President Carter said. “Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America were as vital as those of the men whose names we know so well.”
Gabrielle Sharp
Managing Editor