For many years, women of diverse backgrounds have played significant roles in the development of this country. From the unsung heroes like the hundreds of women who are fighting the war in Iraq to the well known women such as Mother Theresa and Rosa Parks.Unfortunately Women’s History Month has not received the amount of publicity that it should receive; so many are uninformed and unaware of the significance of this celebration. The celebration of Women’s History Month began as women’s history week in 1978 in Sonoma County, California. After several petitions and countless efforts, congress expanded the celebration to an entire month in 1987.
In the early part of the 20th century, women in history have been overlooked and downplayed. Women were omitted from the history books, treated unequally, and degraded as if they were worth less than their male counterparts. Women have encountered and overcome several battles throughout history including women’s suffrage and wage discrimination.
It wasn’t until 1920 when the 19th amendment was passed that women were allowed the right to vote. In the 1950s and 1960s women were undeniably receiving less money per hour for doing the same work as their male equivalents until the Equal Pay Act was passed on June 10, 1963.
In today’s society, women are still overcoming adversity in various aspects of the world. Women are still being passed over for promotions and having to work twice as hard to be on the same playing field as men. Women often take on the role of “superwoman” by balancing careers, families, and social lives; however, regardless of the complex lives that many women live, they still are not given the credit and gratitude they deserve.
This month let us all take the time out of our busy schedules to appreciate the women in our lives whether it be our mothers, grandmothers, or our ancestors who marched and protested during the civil rights and women rights movements.
The NAACP is dedicated to providing information about all nationalities of women, not just African American women. Because it was women’s hard work, strength, courage, and fortitudinous efforts that have shaped this country. It is important to know that women have been dynamic and innovative in various aspects of our culture such as science, film, art, literature, history, and legal areas just to name a few.
The GSU Youth and College chapter of the NAACP has decided to post flyers around campus recognizing various influential women in history. So as we walk to and from class, peruse the flyers and acquire additional knowledge about significant women who have had positive influences on history.