Women's History Month

By: Brooke Paganelli

Happy Women's History Month! March 1 marks the official start of Women’s History Month in America. Women’s History Month began as Women’s History Week in 1981, starting on March 7. The movement to remember and celebrate women’s achievements in America then expanded. Since 1995, Clinton and subsequent presidents have signed off designating the entire month of March as Women’s History Month.  

Did you know that every Women’s History Month has a theme? In 2020, the theme was “Valiant Women of the Vote,” which aimed to honor the original suffragists as well as the continued fight for women’s rights. This theme was extended into 2021, with the title “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced.” The theme for 2022 aims to reflect on the women who have done so much to aid during the Covid-19 pandemic. The title “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope” celebrates not only frontline caregivers and essential workers, but all women who have sacrificed during this difficult time. 

When people think of women’s history, many times the suffragists come to mind. But the fight didn’t stop after the 19th amendment was passed. The 19th amendment only granted white women the right to vote, leaving out women who had fought alongside Susan B. Anthony that were not white. It is just as important to remember and commemorate these women. There are some well known black suffragists, such as Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells, but women of all races and ethnicities participated in the women’s suffrage movement. It was Native American women who inspired the suffrage movement with the freedoms they held within their tribes before forced assimilation into white culture. Some Native American suffragists include Zitkala–Sa and Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin. It wasn’t until 1965 that full racial discrimination was banned in voting, finally including Latina and Asian American suffragists. Asian American women suffragists include Mabel Ping Hua-Lee and Tye Lueng Schulze. Latina suffragists include Dolores Huerta and Jovita Idár. 

Many important dates are celebrated throughout Women’s History Month. International Women’s Day is recognized throughout the world on March 8, celebrating women everywhere and their accomplishments. March 3 is the anniversary of the first major march on Washington by suffragists. The Equal Rights Amendment was passed on March 22, 1972.