The Power of Her: Celebrating Women's History Month

March 18, 2024 | by sau1admin

Along with Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, March is also Women’s History Month. The movement to create Women's History Month started early in 1980. Communities began to recognize the important impact that women had on society. Because of important changes that women were part of, such as women’s voting rights and helping to fight for the freedom of others who were being mistreated, lawmakers wanted to create a way for women to be celebrated for their efforts to make the United States better for everyone.

To start, several lawmakers got together to create a bill that would carve out a time to celebrate the achievements of women throughout America. President Jimmy Carter backed the idea. In February of 1980, the week of March 8, 1980 became the first Women’s History Week thanks to President Carter’s Presidential Proclamation. During his announcement, President Carter had this to say, “I urge libraries, schools, and community organizations to focus their observances on the leaders who struggled for equality – – Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, and Alice Paul. Understanding the true history of our country will help us to comprehend the need for full equality under the law for all our people.”

The National Women’s History Alliance tells us that thanks to President Carter's announcement, fourteen (14) states adopted the idea of Women's History Week but took it a step further and created Women's History Month. This idea was popular among lawmakers and lobbyists and in 1987, Women's History Month the way we know it today was adopted.

Every year since 1995 different laws have been passed to improve Women's History Month and make sure that women are celebrated for their involvement in society. You can read more about Women’s History Month and the steps we've taken since then on the Library of Congress Women’s History Month website.

We here at SAU1 value the part that women play in the workforce and in everyday lives. Thank you to all women for the part you play in everyone's life on a daily basis! We salute and celebrate you this month!