Women’s History Month 2022: How it Started and What it’s All About
By: Sarah G
Women have persevered and shattered countless barriers and stereotypes placed on them. Dating back to July 19th — 20th, 1848, the first women’s rights convention organized by women was assembled in New York. Three hundred people attended, and 68 women and 32 men signed the Declaration of Sentiments; the declaration “sparked decades of activism, eventually leading to the passage of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote” (History.com). Among many other events, Rosa Parks's refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man helped initiate the civil rights movement. Countless women have defied the odds, culminating with Kamala Harris’s recent milestones achieved. Harris was California’s first Black female attorney general, and in 2016 she won election to the US Senate. Determined to break barriers, Harris is the first woman and first woman of color vice president of the US. Women’s History Month aims to recognize and celebrate women’s contributions and achievements to society, such as those mentioned above.
How did Women’s History Month begin?
Women’s History Month did not begin as a month, but rather as a week. Starting as a local celebration in a Californian town in 1978, Women’s History Week was celebrated. Women’s groups and historians, led by the National Women’s History Alliance (formerly called National Women’s History Project), advocated for a Women’s History Week. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week.
Susan Scanlan, a former Legislative aid, Barbra Mikulski, a former Representative and later Senator, and Senator Orrin Hatch were prominent contributors in initiating Women’s History Week and ensuring its continuance. In 1981, Mikulski and Hatch “introduced resolutions to designate the week of March 8th as Women’s History Week,” and Scanlan set up a bill to officially declare the week (National Women’s History Museum). The week of March 8th became Women’s History Week in a rather silly and spontaneous way; Mikulski originally suggested having it in August, since that is when women were granted the right to vote, but due to scorching hot temperatures in August, Scanlan thought people would not participate in parades. Since March 8th is International Women’s Day, Scanlan and Mikulski decided on the week of March 8th would be a perfect fit for Women’s History Week, as the weather would be prime for parading and marching. Mikulski went on and eventually got Women’s History Month approved, which is launched by a presidential proclamation each year. In 1987, congress passed “Public Law 100–9, designating March as ‘Women’s History Month’” (National Women’s History Museum). The National Women’s History Alliance chooses the theme for March, which changes yearly. Through the determination of courageous women, the Women’s History Week, and then Women’s History Month began, creating a time of celebration, appreciation, and recognition for vital milestones women have achieved over the years.
The National Women’s History Alliance, which was formerly called the National Women’s History Project, was founded in California in 1980 by the strong, influential women, Molly Murphy MacGregor, Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett, and Bette Morgan. The project’s goal was to “broadcast women’s historical achievements” (National Women’s History Alliance). Since the beginning of Women’s History Month, which they urged Congress to solidify, the project establishes the Women’s History Month themes. Additionally, the project “provided recourses and materials for education and celebration of the women honored” (National Women’s History Alliance). The project transitioned to the National Women’s History Alliance in 2018 to “better support the study and celebration of women’s history all year long” (National Women’s History Alliance).
Women’s History Month 2022
In support and recognition of the many brave workers, caregivers, and more, during the pandemic, the theme for 2022 is “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope” (National Women’s History Alliance). This year’s theme honors the incredible women who, “in public and private life, provide healing and promote hope for the betterment of all” (National Women’s History Alliance).
2022 Women’s History Month Events
Women’s History Month sparks many educational and enjoyable events focused on recognizing and honoring brave women who have and are overcoming restrictive barriers. Listed below are events from Women’s History Month that have already occurred or are coming up soon!
March 2nd — Women of the 117th Congress: Diverse Voices: A roundtable discussion happened to celebrate the 117th Congress, the most recent Congress, which set a “new record high for women’s representation in legislature” (Women’s History Month).
March 3rd — Women’s Directors Roundtable at the 2022 Mother Tongue Film Festival: To honor the “role of women in language transmission,” women directors and filmmakers joined to discuss the power of language.
March 8th — Female Genius: Eliza Harriot and George Washington at the Dawn of the Constitution
March 11th, 16th, and 21st — Her Story: How Women and Girls Transformed the World: The Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative will join adults and children for online educational workshops.
March 30th — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg “Great Americans” Medal Posthumous Presentation: On behalf of Ruth Bader Ginsburg for incredible determination and commitment to human rights and gender equality, her children will receive the national Museum of American History’s “Great Americans” medal.
Abigail Adams stood up for women’s voices and representation to her husband and the Continental Congress (1776). Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to graduate medical school and became a doctor in the US (1849). Sojourner Truth persistently advocated for women’s rights (1851). Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives (1917). Rosa Parks defended her seat in the front of the bus, initiating a much larger change (1955). Tennis player Billie Jean King beat Bobby Rigs in a “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, displaying the incredible strength of women (1973) (History.com). Sally Ride was the American first woman in space (1983). Nancy Pelosi was the first female speaker of the House (2007). Kamala Harris was the first woman and first woman of color US vice president (2021). These are just some of the many, many women who have courageously stood up for themselves and women all over. Women’s History Month celebrates the phenomenal milestones women have reached and are continuing to strive for.
Works Cited
“American Women: A Guide to Women’s History Resources at the Library of Congress.” Women’s History Month, Library of Congress, womenshistorymonth.gov/. Accessed 13 Mar. 2022.
History.com Editors. “Women’s History Milestones: A Timeline.” History, A&E Television Networks, 26 Feb. 2019, www.history.com/topics/womens-history/womens-history-us-timeline. Accessed 13 Mar. 2022.
Nadworny, Elissa. “Kamala Harris Sworn in as Vice President.” NPR, 2022 NPR, 20 Jan. 2021, www.npr.org/sections/inauguration-day-live-updates/2021/01/20/958749751/vice-president-kamala-harris-takes-the-oath-of-office. Accessed 13 Mar. 2022.
“The 2022 National Women’s History Theme.” National Women’s History Alliance, 2021 National Women’s History Alliance, nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/2022-theme/. Accessed 13 Mar. 2022.
“Women’s History Month.” National Women’s History Museum, www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month#:~:text=Women's%20History%20Month%20began%20as,History%20Week%E2%80%9D%20celebration%20in%201978. Accessed 13 Mar. 2022.
