By Sonia Billadeau
Happy National Women’s History Month! Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Melba Pattillo—just to name a few—stood alone and fought the norm to achieve what seemed right.
These women: one who did not give up her sit because of discrimination, another who worked hard to become the first woman pilot, and one who integrated high school for whites and African Americans, paved new paths to get women where they are now.
Just 29 years ago, Congress officially made March Women’s History Month. Here is a little walk through how it all started:
Women’s History Week Celebration
In 1978, the Education Task Force of California’s Sonoma County organized the first “Women’s History Week” celebration, according to National Women’s History Project.
During this week, women from the community visited the schools and gave presentations. Also, an annual “Real Women” essay contest was conducted throughout the county. The week was completed with a parade in downtown Santa Rosa, California.
In 1980, Women’s History Week became official in the States when President Carter published the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women’s History Week.
“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.
“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 was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” President Carter said in his address for the very first Women’s Week.
Once the decision was final, many departments of education around the nation celebrated Women’s History Week in classrooms. Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Oregon and Alaska were among the first states to create course materials for all of their public schools, as researched by National Women’s History Project.
When Women’s History Week became Women’s History Month
Within six years, 14 states had declared March as Women’s History Month. In 1987, the National Women’s History Project petitioned to Congress that Women’s Week should officially become women’s month. Between 1988 and 1994, Congress approved additional resolutions requesting the President to declare March of each year as Women’s History Month, according to the Women’s History Month webpage.
Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a special Presidential Proclamation every year designating March Women’s History Month, according to the Women’s History Month webpage.
There is true motivation and inspiration behind the courage and determination of the men and women who made Women’s History Month possible. Ladies, don’t be afraid to be passionate about what you do and make a difference! Let’s celebrate these women’s legacy by paving our own paths as women--fearlessly.