Women’s History Month is celebrated every March by Americans all around the country to honor the contributions made by women in history.
“Women have been seen fighting for decades and having a month dedicated to these brave people is the least we can do for representation,” said Amanda Romain, a woman who celebrates women’s history month.
Overcoming Barriers
Throughout American history women have faced a multitude of obstacles and prejudice, but continued to fight the patriarchy. In the beginning, Women’s History Month was only a week-long celebration starting on March 8 and it was intentionally planned to correspond with International Women’s Day.
International Women’s day is a global celebration of the cultural, social, economic, and political achievements of women in history. Along with IWD, Women’s History Month is celebrated all over the globe by various different nations and communities around the world.
Celebrating Women
The day of celebration gained traction resulting in an increase in popularity amongst the states. Women’s History Week was lengthened to a whole month after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project. The Library of Congress, a branch of congress designated for research, states that “Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month.” Presidents have issued a group of annual proclamations that continue to designate March as Women’s History Month. These proclamations from the President are to honor the contributions women have made to the United States.
“It is really important that as a society we continue to spread the contributions of women that made the United States what it is for women today,” said Katie Lizarraga, a junior.
Feminism in America
Susan B. Anthony was an abolition activist, and a woman that will forever go down in history as someone who played a pivotal role in the Women’s Suffrage movement.
It shows recognition about the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a multitude of other fields. Another important figure in the Women’s Suffrage movement was Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Elizabeth was an author, lecturer, and chief philosopher of women’s rights; she formulated the agenda for women’s rights that guided the movement.
One of those accomplishments that women fought for and earned is to have all rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
“It is important to recognize the trials and tribulations women have gone through to get where we are today, but we still have a lot more to do regarding the patriarchy,” said Isabella Goldberg, a senior.
Patriarchy Today
The beliefs that the patriarchy has ingrained into the minds of people today still affect women currently. Up until 1920, women were treated as property by white males and were viewed to only be of value if they remained an obedient wife and a mother who produced offspring. In the 1900’s, a woman’s legal standing relied on their marital status.
She had no control over her biological reproduction, and no right to sue or be sued due to having no separate standing in court. A woman had no right to own property in her own name or to pursue a career of her choice. Women could not vote, serve on juries, or hold public office. In the eyes of the Supreme Court members, women were not “persons” under the Fourteenth Amendment.