Celebrating Women’s History Month
National Women’s History Month traces its roots to March 8, 1857, when women from various New York City factories staged a protest over poor working conditions. The first Women’s Day celebration in the United States was in 1909, also in New York City. In 1981 Congress established National Women’s History Week to be commemorated annually the second week of March. Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, Presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Many federal agencies celebrate and recognize the importance of Women’s History month.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month 2021, we reflect upon advances women have made over the last decade. Women have increased their earnings and education, fields of occupation and continued to live longer than men. You can see stats from Census Bureau surveys highlighting how women’s employment has changed over the years by going to: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2021/womens-history-month.html
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Services, Smithsonian Institution and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history: https://womenshistorymonth.gov/about/
The Department of Transportation highlights Women in Transportation History: https://www.transportation.gov/womenandgirls
The Agriculture Department has a Women in Agriculture Mentoring Network to connect, share stories, and share experiences with fellow women in agriculture. The goal is to promote the image, role, and leadership of women not only on the farm, but leading youth organizations, conducting cutting edge research at universities across the country, in the boardrooms of global corporations: https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/initiatives/women-agriculture
The US Army highlights women with their 2021 Hall of Fame and stories of trailblazing women:
https://www.army.mil/article/244095/trailblazing_women_honored_for_storied_army_careers
US Department of Education features Women’s History Month: 15 Ways to Celebrate Women and Their Contributions to History:
https://www2.ed.gov/free/features/women-history-month.html
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva had a conservation which they called “the Age of Womenomics” They discussed gender inclusion, especially in economics and finance, their respective career journeys, challenges and role models, and the impact of this current COVID-19 economic crisis on women. You can watch the YouTube video here:
The U.S. Secretary of State recognizes women from around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, often at great personal risk and sacrifice with the Women of Courage Award. You can learn more about the 2021 honorees at https://www.state.gov/secretary-of-states-international-women-of-courage-award/