March 11, 2022
By Amerie Diaz
Staff Writer
This piece is part of The Lighthouse’s four-part collection celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8 and Women’s History Month.
Women’s History Month, which is celebrated every March, was created in 1987 to honor women’s contributions throughout history. Thirty-five years ago, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity, and every year since then, a special Presidential Proclamation has been issued to celebrate the achievements of American women.
Although American women have been making history for hundreds of years, their impact is often disregarded. This is why Women’s History Month is the perfect time to educate yourself and reflect on the accomplishments women have made.
A 2017 report published by Smithsonian Magazine found that schools hardly include women in their history curricula. According to the report, of the 737 historical figures studied, only 178 were women. While women make up more than half of the United States’ population, it makes no sense that female figures are being taught less.
According to Forbes, having a female role model inspires girls to make a difference, but if women’s history is excluded at school, it is difficult for girls to feel inspired.
Learning about female figures is not just beneficial for female students, it can inspire males and teach them to respect women. Teaching about women’s history shows all students that men are not the only ones who have changed history, and women are just as capable as men are.
Throughout history, women have fought for change and made their mark on a variety of professions. Among these women are Marie M. Daly, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Margaret Hamilton and Kamala Harris, who have all shown that women can be successful in male-dominated fields.
In 1947, Marie M. Daly graduated from Columbia University and became the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. She made outstanding contributions to science and overcame racial and gender barriers in a time when only 2% of Black women had college degrees.
In 1980, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by then President Jimmy Carter. In 1993, she joined the Supreme Court and became the second female justice.
Margaret Hamilton is a computer scientist who is credited with coining the term software engineering. In 1969, she wrote the code for Apollo 11’s flight software, which fixed a defect in the code that could have prevented U.S. astronauts from safely landing on the moon.
On Jan. 20, 2021, Kamala Harris changed history by becoming the United States’ first female, Black and South Asian American vice president.
Teaching about women’s history shows all students that men are not the only ones who have changed history, and women are just as capable as men are.
While it is important to take time this month to honor the achievements of women, it is also necessary to recognize the challenges they still face.
For example, in the past year, reproductive rights have been restricted and gender-based violence has been increasing.
In September, the most restrictive abortion law in the country was put into place, which prohibits a woman’s access to abortion in Texas as soon as a heartbeat is detected. In December, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the law will remain effective, but abortion providers have the right to challenge the law.
According to UN Women, a United Nations entity, one in two women reported that they or a woman they know has experienced violence over the course of the pandemic, and seven in 10 women say they believe domestic violence has increased. The violence women have been facing has worsened their emotional and mental health. Lack of employment, family tensions, food insecurity and lower incomes compared to males are among the reasons why women have been more susceptible to violence. Because of these conditions and the spread of the virus, women in abusive households have no choice but to stay with their abusers.
These challenges show that gender inequality is not a thing of the past, and women still have a long way to go until they are truly equal. Women’s History Month only lasts 31 days, but the stories and struggles women face should be recognized all year.
