Women History Month: How to Celebrate and What’s New This Year?
AUTHOR:
dua
POSTED ON:
March 2, 2021
Shares
Share
Tweet
Women’s
History Month aims to celebrate the contributions of women throughout history –
expanding to a variety of cultures and societies. Women’s History Month is
celebrated every year in the month of March since 1987 in the United States and,
this year, we are all set to do the same!
What is the
importance of Women’s History Month?
Many
people, especially cis men, are curious to know why we celebrate Women’s
History Month every year; it’s no different than them questioning on 8th
March every year why there’s no “Men’s Day”. For once and all, we want to
clarify that the month is dedicated to reflect on the contributions made by
women who’ve been disregarded and neglected in the past. Hence, this is when
the world comes together to shed light on the work of Abigail Adams, Sojourner
Truth, Rosa Parks, and Susan B. Anthony and many more accomplished ladies.
In
the beginning, it was supposed to be a weeklong celebration when different
cultures and societies organized to celebrate the contribution of women in
history. Presentations and essay contests would be held along with a parade in
downtown Santa Rosa.
In
1980, President Jimmy Carter warranted the first presidential proclamation and
declared the week of March 8 to be the National Women’s History Week. The next
year, the US Congress followed suit and passed a resolution, establishing it as
a national celebration. Six years later,
the petition came across and Congress expanded the event to the entire month of
March.
What can we do to celebrate Women’s History
Month?
What’s
new this year, and what is a tradition? These are some of the questions that
keep rising whenever we discuss the importance of this month. Following are
some ideas that you can apply to celebrate the significant month.
You can interview
women from your industry and invite them to your podcast or share a blogpost
about it.
You can also
share graphics of the women who inspire you. God knows the gravitas their words
hold.
You can also get
crafty and share a get-to-know post for women in your company and ask others to
support their cause and ambition!
You may also
share articles written by women for women – something that’s relevant to your
audience!
You can also get
involved and actively support organizations that support women and girls from
around the word. Women’s History Month is a chance to extend support to women
across the globe and broaden philanthropic opportunities and work. You can
reach out to organizations like Girls Who Code, Kiva, The Malala Fund, The
Sylvia Rivera Law Project, Invisible Girl Project, Girls Not Brides USA, Global
Fund for Women, and Girls Write Now!
In March 2021, you
may also host guest speakers and give them a platform to share their thoughts
and ideas. You can either do individual interviews or bring on a panel of women
working in your industry.
Another way to
celebrate this month is by starting a book club. You can consider creating a
list of books that put emphasis on female authors. Furthermore, send out a
survey and ask for book suggestions and allow them the opportunity to
participate. Some of the books that you can read this month are: Lean Out by
Dawn Foster, We Should All Be Feminists by ChimamandaNgoziAdichie, Care Work:
Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, Men Explain
Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit, Feminism Is For Everybody by bell hooks and Transgender
History: The Roots of Today’s Revolution by Susan Stryker.
What we all need
to keep in consideration is the fact that this month is also about
intersectionality. Therefore, don’t be a roadblock for a woman of color or a
trans female of genderfluid individuals. Be open and respectful and help them
if you come across anyone in need and offer support wherever you can.
Bring cis men and
other privileged people on board and ask them to invest and extend their
support. A lot of times, these people want to help but don’t know how to. You can bridge the gap and help them understand how they
can celebrate and contribute in that month.