Past and Present: Women’s History Month of March

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Rubina Chowdhury, News Editor

Throughout the course of history, men and women from across the globe have battled many trials and tribulations in order to make a change in the world. It was often the women, however, whose names remain unknown to this day, and to whom credit has remained unrewarded. This prompted the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission in California to enact “Women’s History Week” back in 1978. They centered the event on the week of March 8, which is recognized as International Women’s Day. Schools all over the county received the occasion with zeal, and organized various programs and services to celebrate. Essay contests in honor of women were administered, along with parades and presentations. What started off as an idea had blossomed into a wonderful opportunity to appreciate all that women have done for centuries, as well as bring attention to important affairs that still needed to be addressed, such as the the the unequal pay gap.

Word began to spread about the matter, and soon other nearby areas took after Women’s History Week. By February of 1980, the first Presidential Proclamation instated the week of March 8 of 1980 officially as National Women’s History Week. That same year, a Congressional Resolution for National Women’s History Week 1981 was issued to display the wide-ranged political support of the event. This sparked the flame that sent National Women’s History Week raging across the country. Education programs looked to it as an opportunity to promote equity within learning environments. People took advantage of this event to lobby a new issue every year that needed to see change and improvement.

This year, the theme is “Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business.” It was put in place to honor women who show leadership and made advancements in the careers of business and the paid labor work force. The specific women chosen to be representatives challenged the longstanding institutions that kept women underpaid and underprivileged. Some of the honorees include Rebecca Anderson, Kate Mullany, Yvonne Walker, and Norma Yaeger. All these women and more keep the dream of equality for women alive every day.