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Diversity Affairs Feature

Women's History Month

In the United States, women's rights have a long, constantly evolving history. In recent decades, significant steps have been taken to improve education, health, family life, economic opportunities and political empowerment for women. The U.S. experience shows that as the status of women advances, so does that of their families, their communities, their workplaces and their nation. In March every year, America honors the spirit, leadership, and hard work of American women recognizing their achievements and contributions in all facets of life – science, community, government, literature, art, sports, medicine.

In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month, and March was declared Women's History Month.

Before 1970, women's history was rarely the subject of serious study. Since then, almost every college offers women's history courses and most major graduate programs offer doctoral degrees in the field.
The public celebration of women's history in this country began in 1978 as "Women's History Week" in Sonoma County, California. The week including March 8, International Women's Day, was selected. In 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) co-sponsored a joint Congressional resolution proclaiming a national Women's History Week.

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Condoleezza Rice First female African-American Secretary of State

Newly elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at the podium in the U.S. Capitol January 4. (© AP Images)

Drew Gilpin Faust stands beneath a bust of John Harvard, Harvard University's founder, on February 11. (© AP Images)

Condoleezza Rice
First female African-American Secretary of State

Newly elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at the podium in the U.S. Capitol January 4. (© AP Images)

Drew Gilpin Faust stands beneath a bust of John Harvard, Harvard
University's founder, on
February 11. (© AP Images)

General Mills manager Kirstie Foster visits her daughter at the company's childcare center. (© AP Images)

Cathy L. Lanier is poised to make history as Washington's first permanent female police chief. (© AP Images)

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Los Angeles Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite Burke pay tribute to Clara Shortridge Foltz, California's first female lawyer, seen in the painting. (© AP Images)

General Mills manager Kirstie Foster visits her daughter at the company's childcare center.
(© AP Images)

Cathy L. Lanier is poised to make history as Washington's first permanent female police chief.
(© AP Images)

Supreme Court Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor and
Los Angeles Supervisor
Yvonne Braithwaite Burke pay tribute to Clara Shortridge Foltz, California's first female lawyer, seen in the painting.
(© AP Images)

Online volunteer Sandrine Cortet can mentor students from her home computer, hundreds or thousands of miles away. (© AP Images)

Brown University President Ruth Simmons is the first black president of an Ivy League college. (© AP Images)

Democracy Dialogues: Women's Rights

Online volunteer Sandrine Cortet can mentor students from her home computer, hundreds or thousands of miles away.
(© AP Images)

Brown University President Ruth Simmons is the first black president of an Ivy League college.
(© AP Images)

Democracy Dialogues:
Women's Rights

Background
The roots of National Women’s History Month go back to March 8, 1857 when women from New York City factories staged a protest over working conditions. International Women’s Day was first observed in 1909. The public celebration of women's history in the U.S. began in 1978 as "Women's History Week" in Sonoma, California. The week including March 8, International Women's Day, was selected. In 1981, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution co-sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) establishing National Women's History Week. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month, and has since passed such a resolution every year. Congressional action is followed by a U.S. Presidential proclamation declaring March as Women's History Month.

A History of Women's History Month
In the first half of the 19th century, women were not allowed the freedoms men enjoyed in the eyes of the law, the church or the government. Women could not vote, hold elective office, attend college or earn a living. If married, they could not make legal contracts, divorce an abusive husband or gain custody of their children.

In July 1848, the first Women's Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. Their "Declaration of Sentiments," based on the U.S. Declaration of Independence, demanded equal rights for women, including the right to vote.
In 1920, with the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, American women finally gained the right to vote. Ultimately, it was economics, rather than politics, that changed the role of women in American society. Equal opportunity was offered to women in the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibited gender discrimination in employment. Significant legislation affecting women resulted in:

• Greater freedom in reproductive choice (1973);
• Minimum wage protection for domestic workers (1974);
• Prohibitions against discriminating in employment against pregnant women (1978);
• Tougher child support laws and protection of pension rights for widows and divorced women (1984);
• Provision of federal funds for child care (1990);
• Employment protection for workers needing extended time off to care for family members (1993); and
• Protections against violence (1994).

A demographic profile of women in the United States

• American women -- 152 million or 51 percent of the U.S. population
• In the age range of 25 to 29 years, 32 percent of women compared to 25 percent of men obtained bachelor's degrees or higher in 2005
• About 59 percent of women 16 or older participated in the labor force in 2005
• About 37 percent of women work in management, professional and related occupations
• The number of women-owned businesses – 6.5 million – has increased by 20 percent between 1997 and 2002 and their revenues jumped 15 percent in the same time frame
• There are 82.5 million of mothers of all ages in the United States
• In 2003, more women (by 2 percentage points) than men used a computer at home
• 166,728 of women participated in an NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) sport in 2004-05
• In 2006, according to Census Bureau statistics, more women than men (32 percent versus 26 percent) could be found doing charity work and reading literature (55 percent versus 38 percent).

National Women's History Project and Observance of the WHM
Throughout history, the tremendous positive changes in women's rights are celebrated every year in offices, schools, and communities nationwide in thousands of events. The people of the United States observe this month with programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor the history, accomplishments, and contributions of American women.
The National Women's History Project (NWHP), an educational nonprofit organization, recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of women by providing information and educational materials and programs.
Every year in March, the NWHP coordinates observances of National Women’s History Month, sets the annual theme, produces educational materials, and chooses particular women to honor. The 2007 Women's History Month theme, Generations of Women Moving History Forward, celebrates the wisdom and tenacity of prior and future generations of women and recognizes the power of generations working together.