Women's History Month

Women's History Month is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8, and during October in Canada, corresponding with the celebration of Persons Day on October 18.[1]

History

In the United States

Women's History Month reception in the East Room of the White House on 18 March 2013.


Women's History Month

In March 2011, the Obama administration released a report, Women in America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being,[2] showing women 's status in the U.S. in 2011 and how it had changed over time.[3] This report was the first comprehensive federal report on women since the report produced by the Commission on the Status of Women in 1963.[3]

Some organizations have issued statements marking Women's History Month, for example the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee.[4][5]

A President's Commission on the Celebration of Women in History in America recently sponsored hearings in many parts of the country. The Women's Progress Commission will soon conduct hearings to promote interest in preserving areas that are relevant in American women's history. Some of the groups promoting this interest are state historical societies, women's organizations, and groups such as the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Presidential Proclamations of Women’s History Week

1980 (scroll down)
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

Presidential Proclamations of Women's History Month

Annual themes of Women's History Month, declared by the National Women's History Project

  • 1987: "Generations of Courage, Compassion, and Conviction"[6]
  • 1988: "Reclaiming the Past, Rewriting the Future"[6]
  • 1989: "Heritage of Strength and Vision"[6]
  • 1990: "Courageous Voices – Echoing in Our Lives"[6]
  • 1991: "Nurturing Tradition, Fostering Change"[6]
  • 1992: "A Patchwork of Many Lives"[6]
  • 1993: "Discover a New World"[6]
  • 1994: "In Every Generation, Action Frees Our Dreams"[6]
  • 1995: "Promises to Keep"[6]
  • 1996: "See History in a New Way"[6]
  • 1997: "A Fine and Long Tradition of Community Leadership"[6]
  • 1998: "Living the Legacy"[6]
  • 1999: "Women Putting Our Stamp on America"[6]
  • 2000: "An Extraordinary Century for Women 1900–2000"[6]
  • 2001: "Celebrating Women of Courage and Vision"[6]
  • 2002: "Women Sustaining the American Spirit"[6]
  • 2003: "Women Pioneering the Future"[6]
  • 2004: "Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility"[6]
  • 2005: "Women Change America"[6]
  • 2006: "Women, Builders of Communities and Dreams"[6]
  • 2007: "Generations of Women Moving History Forward"[6]
  • 2008: "Women's Art Women's Vision"[6]
  • 2009: "Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet"[6]
  • 2010: "Writing Women Back into History"[7]
  • 2011: "Our History is Our Strength"[8]
  • 2012: "Women's Education – Women's Empowerment"[9]
  • 2013: "Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination:Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics"[10]
  • 2014: "Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment"[11]
  • 2015: "Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives"[12]
  • 2016: "Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government"[13]
  • 2017: "Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business"[14]
  • 2018: "Nevertheless, She Persisted: Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination against Women", referring to Mitch McConnell's "Nevertheless, she persisted" remark about Elizabeth Warren.[15]
  • 2019: “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence”Home[16]
  • 2020: “Valiant Women of the Vote”[17]

In Canada

Women's History Month was proclaimed in Canada in 1992, where its purpose is to give Canadians "an opportunity to learn about the important contributions of women and girls to our society – and to the quality of our lives today".[1] October was chosen to coincide with the celebration of the anniversary on October 18 of the decision of the court case Edwards v. Canada, more commonly known as the Persons Case, in which it was established that Canadian women were eligible to be appointed senators and in general had the same rights as Canadian men with respect to positions of political power.[18]

In Russia

Since 2017, there is a group of female volunteers (Women's Museum in Moscow) who spend a virtual month of women's history in Russian. Facebook Groups

In Ukraine

Month of women's history in the Ukrainian language holds the Gender Museum

In Australia

Women's History Month was first celebrated in Australia in 2000, initiated by Helen Leonard, convenor of the National Women's Media Centre, working with the Women's Electoral Lobby. The organisation of annual Women's History Month celebrations is incorporated as part of the work of the Australian Women's History Forum.

Annual themes

Since 2005, the annual celebration of Women's History Month in Australia has centred on a different area of women's achievement. Promotional materials and events are focused around the theme and organisations, institutions and community groups are encouraged to use this theme for their own events.

  • 2013: Finding Founding Mothers[19]
  • 2012: Women with a Plan: architects, town planners and landscape architects[20]
  • 2011: Women in the Business of Food[21]
  • 2009: Parliamentary Women[22]
  • 2008: Women with a Mission: Australian women contributing overseas[23]
  • 2007: Arm in Arm: Indigenous and non-Indigenous Women Working Together[24]
  • 2006: Musical Belles: Women in Music[25]
  • 2005: Celebrating Racy Women[26]

In the UK

Women's History Month was celebrated in the UK in 2011 and 2012. A website was set up but has since apparently been abandoned.

References

  1. "Women's History Month". Status of Women Canada. Government of Canada. October 3, 2011. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20170119025352/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/Women_in_America.pdf
  3. "White House Releases First Comprehensive Federal Report on the Status of American Women in Almost 50 Years". The White House. 2011-03-01. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  4. "RNC Statement on Women's History Month". GOP. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  5. "DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz Celebrates Women's History Month: "We Can't Stop Now" | Democrats.org".
  6. "Honorees: 2010 National Women's History Month". National Women's History Project. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  7. "2010 Theme: Writing Women Back into History". National Women's History Project. 1980-03-08. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  8. Hammond, Kayla (March 1, 2011). "Women's History Month: 'Our History Is Our Strength'". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  9. "2012 National Women's History Month Theme: Women's Education – Women's Empowerment". National Women's History Project. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  10. "Announcing the Theme for National Women's History Month March 2013". National Women's History Project. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  11. "National Women's History Project". National Women's History Project. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  12. "2015 Theme | National Women's History Project". Nwhp.org. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  13. "Latest News". Nwhp.org.
  14. "2017 Theme and 2017 Honorees". Nwhp.org.
  15. "National Women's History Month: What is it, when did it begin, who is being honored this year?". kiro7.com. 25 February 2018.
  16. "National Women's History Alliance | Our History is Our Strength". Retrieved 2019-02-04.
  17. "Women's History Month". National Women's History Museum.
  18. Henrietta Muir Edwards and others (Appeal No. 121 of 1928) v The Attorney General of Canada (Canada) [1929] UKPC 86, [1930] AC 124. Accessed March 3, 2012.
  19. "Women’s History Month 2013", Australian Women's History Forum. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  20. "Australian Women’s History Month 2012 poster". Australian Women's History Forum. January 22, 2012. Accessed March 4, 2012.
  21. Pandora on April 14, 2010. Accessed March 4, 2012.
  22. Women's History Month 2009. Australian Women's History Forum. October 19, 2008. Archived by Pandora on April 14, 2009. Accessed March 4, 2012.
  23. Women with a Mission. Australian Women's History Forum. August 13, 2007. Archived by Pandora on April 14, 2008. Accessed March 4, 2012.
  24. Women's History Month 2007. National Foundation for Australian Women. 2007. Archived by Pandora on April 5, 2007. Accessed March 4, 2012.
  25. Women's History Month 2006. National Foundation for Australian Women. March 7, 2006. Archived by Pandora on April 12, 2006. Accessed March 4, 2012.
  26. Women's History Month 2005. National Foundation for Australian Women. April 21, 2005. Archived by Pandora on August 5, 2005. Accessed March 4, 2012.
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