Women's History Month by Mackenzie Hudson

"Women like you pave the way for women like me. And for that, I am grateful."

Did you know that the month of March is dedicated to women’s history? According to History.com, “Women’s History Month is a dedicated month to reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of women to United States history.”

This celebration started when the school district of Sonoma, California, started a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history, and society in 1978. This week included presentations, a parade in downtown Santa Rosa, and students submitted essays for a “Real Woman” essay contest. This celebration would make its way to the federal government when President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week in 1980. Congress would pass a resolution the next year establishing a national celebration, and Congress would expand the event to the entire month of March 6 years later.

International Women’s Day is on March 8th every year. This day, sponsored by the United Nations since 1975, allows women to be celebrated everywhere, with celebrations including demonstrations, educational initiatives, and customs such as presenting women with gifts and flowers.

This year’s theme for Women’s History Month was determined by the National Women’s History Alliance. The theme is Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope. This theme is "both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history."

Here's to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.