How Did Women's History Month Happen?
Women’s History Month in America sprouted from International Women’s Day, a day that commemorated socialists and suffragists meeting in 1909. A year later a German activist, Clara Zetkin, introduced the idea that the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen support an International Women’s Day. All 17 participating countries agreed and the day was officially adopted. Over the years, the number of countries that celebrate International Women’s Day has grown. In America 1977, a Women’s History Week started out of a push to move school principals to recognize and enforce Title IX. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week. By 1988, congress had declared it National Women’s History Month. This month is dedicated to hearing the stories not told in many history books- of the women who shaped history.
To learn more about women that shaped our history, read these articles:
History Channel’s 11 Bold Women Who Changed the World
Marie Clare’s 50 Famous Women Throughout History
Time Magazine’s Historians Pick 9 Women From American History You Should Know.
People Magazine’s 15 Times Women have Made History this Past Year
Authors of Interest
Check out some of these women authors who created amazing works of art that can transport you to new worlds and change your perspective:Laurie Halse Anderson
Ursula K. LeGuin
George Eliot
Alice Walker
Toni Morrison
Maya Angelou
Harper Lee
Mary Shelley
Jane Austen
Agatha Christie
Amy Tan
Chimamanda Ngosi Adichie
Judy Blume
Erin Hunter
Suzanne Collins
Attitude of Gratitude and Women's History Month
During the month of March, we’re focusing on “Attitude of Gratitude” and ways we can appreciate ourselves as well as those around us. Students in school have been identifying things they’re grateful for in a journal, writing cards to people, and exploring ways they can share their appreciation. March is also Women’s History month where we celebrate and honor the accomplishments of women and recognize there have been women throughout history paving the way for everyone and we should be grateful for them, too.
Learn more about why we celebrate Women’s History month by watching this video.
Simply saying thank you each and every day is powerful. One way to expand the power of gratitude is to write someone a note. You can send it as an email or text, but a handwritten note is the most powerful since it is the most personal. As an activity with your family, think of a person who has been particularly helpful to you recently. Write them a note of appreciation and deliver it. Challenge yourself to incorporate Women’s History month, too, and identify a woman in your life you want to thank. Whether it’s a family member, neighbor, someone in your community, etc. it will make their day and yours! Constantly express gratitude to others, and you’ll begin to notice the wonderful things that doing so will bring into your life!
