March is Women’s History Month

Women have long fought and sacrificed for equity and equality in communities across the country. We now celebrate Women’s History Month each March to remind ourselves of the accomplishments and successes of women in American culture and society. From science to politics, it’s a chance to reflect on the trailblazing women who led the way for change.

Women’s History Month initially started as Women’s History Week. In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians—led by the National Women’s History Project – lobbied for national recognition of women’s contributions to culture, history, and society. It was President Jimmy Carter who issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as the first National Women’s History Week. In 1987, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.

The National Women’s History Project is now the National Women’s History Alliance. Learn More: www.nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org

Find more Information on Women’s History Month: www.womenshistorymonth.gov

Significant achievements for women in America:

• The Married Women’s Property Act of 1882 gave women independence, under the law, regarding finances and property. It allowed women to own, buy, and sell property, keep any income from the property or an occupation, and keep any inheritance. Additionally, the law made both parents equally responsible for their children.
• The Nineteenth Amendment of the Constitution was ratified in 1920, guaranteeing all American women the right to vote.
• Mary Clarke was the first woman to ever attain the rank of major general in the U.S. Army in 1978.
• In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act that sought to improve criminal justice and community-based responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in the United States.
• In 1997, Madeleine Albright became the first female secretary of state, which made her the highest-ranking woman at the time in the federal government’s history.
• Kamala Harris became the first female vice president and the first African American and first Asian American vice president in 2021.
• In 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson, became the first black woman to serve as a justice of the US Supreme Court.

Let’s celebrate Women’s History Month not just by exploring the history of women’s’ rights, but also by celebrating the achievements and opportunities women were once restricted from, and collectively work to create a more inclusive world.

More Information:

Movies and Documentaries to Inspire You This Women’s History Month

Women Owned Businesses in Los Angeles

Amazing Achievements by Women in the Last 50 Years

June Simmons and the Executive Staff