March, the month dedicated to the importance of women through history

March 5, 2020 por Isolda Barrera

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President Jimmy Carter mentioned in March 1980, “Since the first settlers who arrived on our shores, since the first American Indian families who became friends with them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often, women were not recognized and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built the United States were as vital as those of men whose names we know so well ... I ask my fellow citizens to recognize this heritage with appropriate activities during the National Women's History Week, March 2 to 8, 1980. I urge libraries, schools and community organizations to focus their observances on leaders who fought for equality - Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman and Alice Paul.”

The beginnings for Women's Month can be traced back to 1911, but it was not until 1978 that the movement took on more force. Women's History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. Everything happened when the Education Working Group of the Commission on the Status of Women of Sonoma County planned and held a celebration of the "Women's History Week." The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond to International Women's Day.

The movement spread throughout the country as other communities began their own celebrations of Women's History Week the following year.

The National Project on the History of Women asked Congress to respect the celebration and give it a month to honor it. In 1987 Congress passed the public law (Pub. L 100-9) that designated the month of March as the Month of the History of Women.

Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions to request and authorize the president to proclaim the month of March of each year as Women's History Month.

Since 1988, the presidents of the United States have issued annual proclamations that designate the month of March as Women's History Month.

This year the theme of Women's History Month is "Brave women of the vote." The issue pays tribute to the brave women who fought to win voting rights for women, and for women who continue to fight for the voting rights of others.

Schools and communities across the nation have been requested to be in solidarity with the celebration that promotes equality, respect and honor for the achievements of women over the years. You can also search locally for events that will take place to commemorate Women's Month.

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