vlog

Skip to content
NOWCAST vlog News at 6am Weekday Mornings
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Here's why Women's History Month is in March

A quick lesson

Here's why Women's History Month is in March

A quick lesson

Advertisement
Here's why Women's History Month is in March

A quick lesson

Every March, we look forward to taking the time to celebrate the power of women. From everyday women to the celebrities we admire, we're always up to get schooled on girl power. So, when it comes to Women's History Month, we have some questions, like why is it in March, and how did it even come to be in the first place? We've answered that (and more) below.How did the first Woman's Day become a national movement?In March 1910, the Second International Conference of Women was held in Copenhagen, according to the University of Chicago.In the United States, 17 countries were represented by nearly 100 women who advocated for their gender through various clubs, unions and socialist parties. They also formed demonstrations that pushed for voting rights, in addition to better working conditions and pay for female-dominated trades, like the textile industry.At the gathering, it was decided the next year would mark the world's first International Woman's Day (later changed to "women's" day) and it was officially celebrated on March 8, 1911. Then Women's Day grew from a day to a week. Due to its popularity, over half a century later in 1975, the United Nations officially began sponsoring International Women's Day — with the UN's General Assembly declaring that the day would be held "to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms requires the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security." However, according to the National Women's History Alliance, by 1978, a California-based organization (the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women) became frustrated with the lack of information about women's history available to the public or in grade school curriculum. Branching off of the initial celebration, they initiated the creation of Women's History Week, starting March 8. It was an instant hit. "Over one-hundred community women participated by doing special presentations in classrooms throughout the country and an annual 'Real Woman' Essay Contest drew hundreds of entries," the NWHA website states. And a week became a whole month.In 1979, NWHP member Molly Murphy McGregor was invited to The Women's History Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. There, after sharing the success of the celebratory week, the national leaders in attendance wanted to bring back a version of Women's History Week to their own communities. Because of the wide-ranging interest, efforts began to secure judicial support.Success came in February 1980 after President Jimmy Carter declared in a presidential proclamation that the week of March 8 was officially National Womens' History Week; congressional support soon followed, according to the NWHP. As a result of its country-wide recognition and continued growth in state schools, government and organizations, by 1986, 14 states had gone ahead and dubbed the third month of the year Women's History Month. A year later, it sparked Congress to declare the holiday in perpetuity.Now, let's fast-forward to 2022.The NWHP always declares an annual theme. This year's is "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.""The 2022 Women’s History theme, “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history."

Every March, we look forward to taking the time to celebrate the power of women. From to the, we're always up to get schooled on girl power. So, when it comes to Women's History Month, we have some questions, like why is it in March, and how did it even come to be in the first place? We've answered that (and more) below.

How did the first Woman's Day become a national movement?

Advertisement

In March 1910, the Second International Conference of Women was held in Copenhagen, according to the University of Chicago.

In the United States, 17 countries were represented by nearly 100 women who advocated for their gender through various clubs, unions and socialist parties. They also formed demonstrations that pushed for voting rights, in addition to better working conditions and pay for female-dominated trades, like the textile industry.

At the gathering, it was decided the next year would mark the world's first International Woman's Day (later changed to "women's" day) and it was on March 8, 1911.

Then Women's Day grew from a day to a week.

Due to its popularity, over half a century later in 1975, the United Nations officially began sponsoring International Women's Day — with the declaring that the day would be held "to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms requires the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security."

However, according to the , by 1978, a California-based organization (the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women) became frustrated with the lack of information about women's history available to the public or in grade school curriculum. Branching off of the initial celebration, they initiated the creation of Women's History Week, starting March 8. It was an instant hit.

"Over one-hundred community women participated by doing special presentations in classrooms throughout the country and an annual 'Real Woman' Essay Contest drew hundreds of entries," the NWHA website states.

And a week became a whole month.

In 1979, Molly Murphy McGregor was invited to The Women's History Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. There, after sharing the success of the celebratory week, the national leaders in attendance wanted to bring back a version of Women's History Week to their own communities. Because of the wide-ranging interest, efforts began to secure judicial support.

Success came in February 1980 after President Jimmy Carter declared in a presidential proclamation that the week of March 8 was officially National Womens' History Week; congressional support soon followed, according to the NWHP.

As a result of its country-wide recognition and continued growth in state schools, government and organizations, by 1986, 14 states had gone ahead and dubbed the third month of the year Women's History Month. A year later, it sparked Congress to declare the holiday in perpetuity.

Now, let's fast-forward to 2022.

The NWHP always declares an annual theme. This year's is "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope."

"The 2022 , “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history."