Women’s History Month: Everything you need to know about the month-long celebration

March 1, 2024

Women’s History Month is held each March.

Now is a time to honor and celebrate women, past and present, who have made a positive impact on society.

Each year, we encourage women to show their support for women-owned businesses, reflect on women in history, share information about events on social media, and host their own discussion groups. You can celebrate History Month.

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Everything you need to know about Women’s History Month, from why it was recognized to how it first started.

Why celebrate Women’s History Month?
What have been past themes for Women’s History Month?
Who started Women’s History Month?
Why is Women’s History Month in March?
What are the colors for Women’s History Month?

1. Why celebrate Women’s History Month?

Women’s History Month is celebrated as a way to honor the contributions women have made to society throughout history. This month is focused on educating people about the important impact powerful women have had both in the past and present.

The list is long, but some popular historical figures that are well-researched and evaluated during the month of March include Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart, and Maya Angelou.

One woman who will be remembered and celebrated during Women’s History Month is powerful women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony. (Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

2. What are past themes for Women’s History Month?

Each year there is a Women’s History Month theme created by the National Women’s History Alliance.

The National Women’s History Alliance has announced a theme for 2024: “Women Advocating for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.”

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The National Women’s History Alliance website states that the theme is “Women throughout history who understand that a positive future requires a complete eradication of prejudice and discrimination from our lives and institutions. It is intended to honor the.”

Themes for the past few years have included:

“Celebrating women who tell their stories”
“Women who bring healing and hope”
“Brave Women of the Voter: Refuse to be Silent.”
“Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and Nonviolence”
“Yet she continued to celebrate women who fight against all forms of discrimination against women.”
“Celebrating pioneering women in labor and business”
“Working towards a more perfect union: Honoring women in civil service and government.”

3. Who started Women’s History Month?

According to History.com, Women’s History Month didn’t officially begin until 1987.

Prior to that, a week-long celebration was held before the specially designated month officially began.

In 1978, Women’s History Week began in the Sonoma, California, school district.

The concept was then made into a national week-long holiday by President Jimmy Carter in 1980.

The vacation took place the week of March 8th.

Former President Carter made Women’s History Week an official holiday in 1980. (Getty Images)

And in 1981, Congress established the week as a national celebration.

It wasn’t until 1987 that the week became a month-long celebration.

4. Why is Women’s History Month in March?

The holiday began as National Women’s Day even before California school districts instituted a weeklong celebration.

According to the International Women’s Day website, thousands of women gathered and marched through the streets of New York City in 1908. They were fighting for women’s rights, including women’s right to vote.

The following year, in 1909, the first official National Women’s Day was celebrated, but on February 28th instead of March.

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While other countries began recognizing Women’s Day in March, Americans continued to celebrate it on the last Sunday in February until the 1970s.

Although March is dedicated to women’s history, International Women’s Day is still held on March 8th every year.

An important day for Women’s History Month is March 3rd. On this day in 1913, the Women’s Suffrage Parade was held. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group, via Getty Images)

Although women’s contributions to society are remembered throughout the year, there are many important events of historical value in March.

According to the National Park Service website, on March 3, 1913, the Women’s Suffrage Parade was held in Washington, D.C., where thousands of women fought for women’s right to vote.

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According to the Library of Congress, the National Woman’s Party was formed in March 1916.

According to the History Channel, on March 22, 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment was passed by the Senate.

5. What are the colors for Women’s History Month?

According to Today.com, purple, green and white are all colors that represent Women’s History Month. The site said the color was also the color of women’s suffrage and political unions.