National Women’s History Month
It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8, and during October in Canada, corresponding with the celebration of Persons Day on October 18. The commemoration began in 1978 as "Women's History Day" in Sonoma County, California, and was championed by Gerda Lerner and the National Women's History Alliance to be recognized as a national week (1980) and then national month (1987) in the United States, spreading internationally after that.
5 ways to Celebrate National Women’s History Month
International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. It is also a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, education and violence, and abuse against women.
Virtually Anytime: 2022 UN theme for International Women’s Day is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.”.
Learn about women’s education leaders – Malala Yousafzai is a women’s education activist and 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner. At eleven years of age, Malala Yousafzai fought for girls' right to education. After having suffered an attack on her life by Taliban gunmen in 2012, she has continued her struggle and become a leading advocate of girls' rights.
Watch, listen, or read speeches about women’s rights
Listen to Hillary Clinton’s 1995 speech at the UN Conference on Women in Beijing entitled “Women’s rights are human rights.”
Listen to Michelle Obama’s speech on Girl’s Education in 2015.
Learn about Forbes 50 over 50 Know Your Value – Highlighting women over 50 who are changing their communities and the world in ways big and small through social entrepreneurship, law, advocacy, and education.
Watch films and documentaries about women’s history – here are a few suggestions below and many more here.
The United States vs. Billy Holiday - Streaming on Hulu
I Am Greta – Streaming on Hulu
Saudi Women’s Driving School – Streaming on HBO Max
Hidden Figures – Streaming on Disney +
Timeline of notable events in U.S. women’s rights history
1848: The Seneca Falls Convention is held, and the Declaration of Sentiments is signed. This sparked decades of activism.
1920: Women’s right to vote - Ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is completed, granting women the right to vote.
1960: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the first commercially produced birth control pill in the world, allowing women to control when and if they have children.
1963: President John F. Kennedy signs into law the Equal Pay Act, prohibiting sex-based wage discrimination.
1973: In its landmark 7-2 Roe v. Wade decision, the U.S. Supreme Court declares that the Constitution protects a woman’s legal right to an abortion.
1981: Sandra Day O’Connor is sworn in by President Ronald Reagan as the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
1983: Flying on the Space Shuttle Challenger, Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.
1984: Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale names U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY) as his running mate, making her the first woman vice-presidential nominee by a major party.
1993: Nominated by President Bill Clinton, Janet Reno is sworn in as the first female attorney general of the United States.
1997: Also nominated by President Clinton, Madeleine Albright is sworn in as the nation’s first female secretary of state.
1994: President Clinton signs the Violence Against Women Act as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act.
2007: U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) becomes the first female speaker of the House.
2009: President Barak Obama signs the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, expanding statutory limitations for litigation of pay discrimination.
2013: The U.S. military removes a ban against women serving in combat positions.
2014: Michelle Howard became the first-ever woman promoted to the rank of 4-star admiral in the U.S. Navy and first woman of color promoted to 4-star admiral.
2016: Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman to receive a presidential nomination from a major political party.
2020: President Biden announces he will nominate Deb Haaland as the Secretary of the Interior, the first Native American cabinet secretary.
2021: Kamala Harris is sworn in as the first woman and first woman of color vice president of the United States.
2022: President Biden nominates Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court.
