Written by: Sitara Nair

Happy Women’s History Month!!! Women as a whole have had to overcome and face so much over history, so it’s important to recognize them!! Let’s learn about the history and importance of women’s month!

March is recognized as international women’s month, and organizations worldwide are here to celebrate. From the National Archives and Records Administration to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, organizations are dedicating this month to highlighting the important contributions of women in society. 

There isn’t one single “start date” for Women's History Month; different communities have developed their own traditions over time. For instance, in August 1910, inspired by American women, the Second International Congress of Socialist Women in Copenhagen, Denmark, decided to mark the first International Women’s Day on March 19, 1911. Meanwhile, in the United States, the tradition began as Women’s History Week in March 1978, when the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women in Santa Rosa, California, started celebrating. Later, the group adopted March 8 as International Women’s Day. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation that solidified this tradition, and Congress passed Public Law 100-9, officially designating March as Women’s History Month. Furthermore, The National Women’s History Museum also shares that the 2025 Women’s Month theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”

The impact of Women

Women are incredibly important, and so let’s celebrate and learn about a couple of their achievements. 

• Anna Filosofova, a Russian philanthropist believed that educating and training the poor was far more effective than simply providing cash benefits. In 1860, Anna Filosofova co-founded a society dedicated to supporting the poor by offering affordable housing and decent work opportunities for women

• Marie Curie revolutionized science in two major ways. She not only founded the field of radioactivity, coining the term herself, but also made groundbreaking discoveries that even led to  effective cancer treatments.

• In 1903, social reformer Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union in Edwardian Britain. With the rallying cry "Deeds, not words," the organization actively campaigned for women's right to vote.

• Florence Nightingale led the first official team of British military nurses to Turkey during the Crimean War (1853–56) between Britain and Russia. Her pioneering work not only provided critical care to wounded soldiers but also laid the foundation for modern nursing practices.

This year, President Donald Trump also shared a short proclamation in recognition of Women’s achievements. In his message, he celebrated the everyday work of women in families, communities, and our country. He said that women are important, and promised to protect and support them by making sure schools and sports treat girls fairly. He encouraged everyone to remember and honor the great things women do.

Women's History Month is a time to celebrate the amazing contributions of women and the difference they make every day. It reminds us to support, respect, and learn from the women in our lives.