Women’s History Month 2018: Why March is Adopted as the Month to Highlight Women's Contributions?

On March 8, every year we celebrate the International Women’s Day. On this day, women have been honoured in every part of the world. This year too, netizens had created exceptional empowering hashtags to mark the day. But the celebration of womanhood continues! If you are on social media, by now you must have come across #WomensHistoryMonth. If you are a sports fan, you must have seen how World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has honoured women around the globe and among them was one of our strongest female leader, India’s first and only woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The hashtag is right now on trend! From March 1 to March 31, the world celebrates Women’s History Month. But not all of us know the significance and story behind this honour. Why is one whole month dedicated to women? Why are not any other months chosen for this purpose, let us find out?

What is Women’s History Month?

Women’s History Month is an annual event that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States of America, United Kingdom and Australia corresponding with International Women’s Day on March 8. And it is not celebrated in March only. Canada honours womankind during the month of October corresponding with Persons Day on October 18.

Why March is Adopted as the Month to Highlight Women's Contributions?

It was only during the 1960s that women really started to question their invisibility and exclusion from the traditional history texts. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women in California wanted to remedy this erasure, so they started the Women’s History Week celebrations in 1978. They chose the week including March 8 as the focus-- which had been declared as International Women's Day by the UN in 1975. The movement received a positive response and many schools started participating in this special week. The success of Women’s History Week spread, and the enthusiasm snowballed all over. By 1986, around 14 US states shifted the celebration from one week to one whole month of March. The goal was to revise the history that had largely pretended that women did not really exist. And it finally became official in 1987. The Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month.

Now that you have an overall idea why we rejoice Women’s History Month, it’s time to know how achievements of women are being celebrated this year.

WWE paid a tribute to Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. They recognize her devotion towards India’s environment and her courageous leadership during the turbulent time.

Nickelodeon Animation honoured the most iconic and indeed our favourite Nick Animation voice American-Canadian actress Tara Lyn Strong.

Popular Music Industry, Billboard honoured the Barbadian singer Rihanna, who is currently the No. 1 artist on Billboard’s Pop Songs chart.

The Independent Women’s Forum celebrated women’s achievements in Women’s History Month.

While the US was fighting against the invisibility from traditional history texts, Indians were raising their voice against historical practices such as Naari Puja, Sati, Devadasi and many such incidents that encouraged gender discrimination. Many women today have realised their power and refuse to go unheard. Women’s History Month is a celebration to let the world know that they were as vocal as we are today. And we still have a long way to go. Enjoy Women’s History Month all you wonderful ladies!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 14, 2018 01:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).