Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope

 

brightly colored women

Did you know that this national celebration was originally just one week? Women’s History Month first came to be as a national celebration in 1982 – though the first celebration was Women’s History Week. 5 years later, the National Women’s History Project petitioned Congress to expand this event from one week to the entire month of March and was successful.

Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to American history, culture, and society. From Abigail Adams pleading for women to have a voice in elections back in 1776, to Rosa Parks helping launch the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement after refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Alabama, to Kamala Harris becoming the very first female (and POC!) Vice President of the United States, women have played a great part in historical events that still affect us today. It is important for everyone to not only learn about this history but also make sure to honor these women for their bravery and persistence.

The National Women’s History Alliance designates a yearly theme for Women’s History Month. The 2022 theme is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” This theme is “both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.”

Here are some fun facts about this national celebration:

  • The legacy of Women’s History Month can be traced back to the first International Women’s Day held in 1911.
  • The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, located in California, initiated a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. Parades, essay contests, and other school activities were conducted in line with the celebration.
  • According to the National Women’s History Alliance, the 2022 theme “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is meant to honor the tireless work of caregivers and frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as women of all backgrounds who have provided compassionate healing and hope for the betterment of patients, friends, and family.

Want to learn more? You can read more about women who have created history in the United States, from the founding of the country to now, here: Women’s History Milestones: A Timeline – HISTORY. This list includes female activists, politicians, authors, and more!

Kayla Villanueva
ASYVC Co-President