March is Women's History Month. Before the 1970s, the topic of women's history was largely missing from general public consciousness.
To address this situation, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week" celebration in 1978 and chose the week of March 8th to integrate it with the existing International Women's Day.
In 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) cosponsored the first Joint Congressional Resolution proclaiming a "Women's History Week." In 1987, the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to expand the celebration to the entire month of March.
Women's History Month activities have played a major role in the development of a new brand of history textbooks that now include many of the achievements of American women.
These achievements have come despite the traditional economic, social, and political barriers that women have had to overcome. Despite great progress during the last four decades, women continue to have to work for real equality on a variety of issues that concern them.
Learning Activity
Students will select one issue that addresses women's equality and learn about the history of that issue.
Students should write an essay of at least 150 words that summarizes the history of that issue including the arguments about the issue, the major progress made, and any successful strategies employed to gain greater equality.
Pathfinder
Select the Subject Heading search option > Type women's rights in the Search box > Click Women's Rights
