How Women's History Month Began
Every March is Women's History Month. It marks a time for recognizing and honoring the achievements of women. Women's History Month presents an opportunity to educate the public about the role that women have played in American history and contemporary society. A congressional resolution has recognized Women's History Month for more than 20 years.
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History
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The roots of Women's History Month extend back to the 1970s, when the Sonoma County, California, education task force established a women's history week during the week of March 8 to coincide with the International Women's Day.
Identification
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The National Women's History Project, the lead sponsor of Women's History Month, was founded in 1980 to promote the importance of women in American history (see Resources).
Effects
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The National Women's History Project noticed that too often history curricula in schools minimized or ignored the role of women in history. This fueled the organization's push for more recognition of women's roles in the shaping of contemporary society.
Prevention/Solution
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A 1981 congressional resolution declared a National Women's History Week. In 1987, the National Women's History Project successfully petitioned Congress to make the entire month of March Women's History Month.
Benefits
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Since 1987, congressional resolutions declaring March as Women's History Month have passed with bipartisan support. Since the 1980s, celebrations of women's history have sparked new interest in the achievements of women.
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