In the United States, Women's History
Month traces its beginnings back to the first International Women's Day in 1911. In
February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring
the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women's History Week. The proclamation
stated, "From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first
American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked
together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes
their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage,
strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the
men whose names we know so well.
In
1987, after being petitioned by the National Women's History Project, Congress passed legislation which
designated the month of March as Women’s History Month. As Dr. Gerda Lerner has
noted, 'Women’s history …is an essential and indispensable heritage from which
we can draw pride, comfort, courage, and long-range vision.’
As evidenced by the huge turnout for
the Women’s March on Washington, awareness of the contributions of women and girls continues
to spread and be celebrated throughout the nation.
Celebrate Women's History
Month with a free download of The Steel
Canyon Legacy. Now through March 5 on Kindle.
Wanda DeHaven Pyle is also the author of Windborne and The Stone House Legacy. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter at
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