Women’s History Month

A Special Month to Honor Women

Every year, Presidential Proclamations designate March as Women’s History Month. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in America’s historical context. The colors purple, green, white and yellow celebrate this special month honoring women. As a result of this monthly celebration, many know more about the important role women have played in the United States throughout history. Choose an awareness ribbon in the color green, purple, white, or yellow to honor women.

Why Do We Celebrate Women’s History Month?

This important month, for example, is dedicated to reflecting on the often-overlooked contributions of women to United States history. From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, the timeline of women’s history milestones stretches back to the founding of the United States.

Women’s History Month started as Women’s History Week

This yearly observance began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County California Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a Women’s History Week celebration in 1978. The organizers, in addition, selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. Further, the movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own celebrations the following year.

Although the 1978 event was not intended to become an annual celebration, the following year communities across the country organized their own women’s celebrations. In addition, in July of the same year, historian Gerda Lerner chaired a 15-day conference at Sarah Lawrence College. This conference was co-sponsored by the Women’s Action Alliance and the Smithsonian Institution. After the conference, historians and women’s activist groups began working together to lobby for a National Women’s History Week.

Their efforts proved successful when, in February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 2 through 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week.

President Jimmy Carter Issues Presidential Proclamation

In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians, led by the National Women’s History Project, successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation. He declared the Week of March 8th, 1980 as National Women’s History Week.

Subsequent Presidents continued to proclaim a week in March until 1987. Then Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as Women’s History Month. Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions. These resolutions requested and authorized the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamation.

Former President Carter’s Message:

“From the first settlers who came to our shores…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.”

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day celebrates the global, economic, political, and social achievements of women. It took place for the first time on March 8, 1911. Many countries around the world celebrate the holiday with demonstrations, educational initiatives, and customs. One of these customs is presenting women with gifts and flowers.

The United Nations has sponsored International Women’s Day since 1975. When adopting its resolution on the observance of International Women’s Day, the United Nations General Assembly cited the following reasons: “To recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.”