HOUSTON – The month of March commemorates the achievements and progress women have made throughout history.
It began in 1980 when President Carter declared the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week.
Recommended Videos
In 1987, The National Women’s History Project made a petition to Congress to expand the event for the entire month of March. Ever since, the world has celebrated women and their contributions to society.
For 2024, The National Women’s History Project announced the theme for the year as “Women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
A great example of women coming together to champion for equity was the women’s suffrage era. During the 19th century, multiple generations of women joined forces to protest what they deemed an injustice.
In 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed by Congress, granting women the right to vote.
But it did not come easy, as women faced opposition by those in power. Facing resistance in the form of abuse, denigration, or even incarceration, they overcame all type of challenges.
Women proved their resilience was stronger than any adversary working against them.
Just like equity, trailblazing women like Rosa Parks, paved the way for a more diverse world. In a time where racial injustice was prevalent, Parks stood her ground and advocated for the rights of African American people.
Refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man in 1955, she inspired the start of the civil rights movement. Over 17,000 Black citizens joined Parks in bus boycotts to raise their voice in the face of injustice.
In 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional. Rosa left her mark in the world, becoming a heroine to marginalized communities.
Similarly, Malala Yousafzai has been a symbol for inclusion as she has fought for the rights of women and girls in education.
In 2012, she was shot by the Taliban for opposing their strict restrictions on girls’ education. Not giving into intimidation, Malala became fearless in using her voice.
She has now traveled over the world, raising awareness for the inclusion of women and girls in education. As a Nobel Peace Prize winner at age 17, Yousafzai has become a role model for women and girls.
Throughout history, society has witnessed women be beacons of hope, justice, and strength, all while empowering others along the way.