Throughout history, the accomplishments of women have commonly been overlooked. Many historical women, such as Susan B. Anthony, a women’s rights activist, and Sacagawea, the woman who guided Lewis and Clark along their expedition, have altered the course of history. So, the creation of Women’s History Month is a way to reflect and admire the women who have impacted our world and has extended to do the same for everyday women making their impact on the world.

“This is a month to honor the compassion, resilience and strength of all of the women in our lives,” says junior Alexa Koller, founder and president of GirlUp, the Indian Hills chapter of the global organization of the same name that aims to create more equality throughout the school and in the community. “During this month, we pay respect to and recognize the accomplishments of women everywhere, valuing their fortitude and capacity for influence.”

Before there was Women’s History Month, there was International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day first took place on March 8th, 1911, and was a way to celebrate the contributions of women socially and politically. Many countries around the world celebrate in many different ways. Some countries give flowers or gifts to women and some people take part in educational activities to learn more about the significance of the month. The United Nations has sponsored International Women’s Day since 1975, acknowledging the contributions women have made in strengthening international peace. 

The first Women’s History Month celebration originated from a local celebration held by a school district of Sonoma County, California. There, hundreds of students participated in an essay contest, and later, a parade was held in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of Sonoma County planned an official Women’s History Week celebration in 1978, and the news of the celebration spread like wildfire to many cities in California and eventually throughout the United States. In February of the same year, President Jimmy Carter passed a legislation to name the week of March 8th, National Women’s History Week. National Women’s History Week remained in action until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9 officially making the month of March Women’s History Month. 

“Women’s History Month is special to me because of awareness and celebration,” says junior Natalie Portnoy, secretary of GirlUp. “Women’s History Month is a great time to bring gender disparities to the forefront of conversations and advocate for women struggling worldwide.” WHM is a way to remember the extraordinary people in the United States, like Sally Ride and Rosa Parks; the women who make a change internationally, like Malala Yousafzai; and women who do their part simply by leaving their own personal impacts.

It is not only important to recognize the women who have become famous for their widespread impact, it is important to recognize the women who are making a difference in ways that don’t seem to get as much recognition. “​​It is also a great time to celebrate the women you are grateful for and make you who you are,” Portnoy, a junior, says. “This year, I will acknowledge and thank all the women I am grateful for.”

“We should be celebrating all the women in our world every month,” says Koller, “but March is a wonderful opportunity to do so on a larger scale.”