By MAYA NAKKOUL
Staff Writer
It’s no understatement to say that March 2020 has been a whirlwind. But, one thing that may have gone under the radar is that March was Women’s History Month. In this time we remember the plight of women in the past, celebrate the strong individuals who got us to where we are today, and move forward into a continued journey for a fairer world.
Women’s History Month has roots that trace it back to its beginning as Women’s History Week. Women’s History Week began in 1980, marking the week of March 8 as such. This week was celebrated every March until 1987, when the president declared the entire month as Women’s History Month. However, by 1986, 14 states had already honored March as Women’s History Month.
Nowadays, March 8 is celebrated as “International Women’s Day.” This day, highlighting the women’s rights movement, celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across the world regardless of age, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Each year the National Women’s History Alliance declares a theme for the whole month; for 2020 they have selected “Valiant Women of the Vote” to shine a light on those who contributed to the fight for suffrage rights for women and those in the present day who continue to fight for securing the rights of all.
Throughout the month of March we remember those who paid their dues in the pursuit of a fairer world. We remember the suffragettes in the early 1900s as they shed light on the path that earned women the right to vote in 1920. We remember and we celebrate women like Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Malala Yousafzai, Marie Curie, and Amelia Earhart. These women, among so many others in the past and in the present, have made history by either advocating for women’s rights or simply excelling in their fields in a way that brought about positive change and continues to inspire others.
In the current news, one of the most vocal women in the media has been Greta Thunberg. The 17-year-old Swedish environmental activist has made great strides in the fight against climate change with a straightforward and honest manner of speaking on social media and through public assembly. She began what would be a global movement by skipping school in August 2018 to camp outside Swedish parliament to display the message on a sign, “Skolstrejk för klimatet,” or “School Strike for Climate.” In the year to follow, thousands would follow suit and strike for climate change. She has faced scrutiny though she continues to be an outspoken woman whose bravery and ambition knows no bounds, regardless of her young age.
For some, International Women’s Day is spent on strike. Often, women will refrain from any work, paid or unpaid, on this day to protest the economic inequality that women face in the workplace. All are encouraged to wear red in support of this movement, regardless of whether or not you are able to take the day off. Red has become a customary color for International Women’s Day for its boldness, though the suffragettes adopted white for purity, purple for loyalty/dignity and green for hope.
While the argument has been tossed around that the need for feminism has faded with the changing times, it is crucial to understand that feminism simply advocates for women’s rights on the basis of equality among all genders. No one person should be put on a higher pedestal than anybody else. Trans women and women of color face some of the biggest hardships in America. It is up to modern feminism, intersectional feminism, to be inclusive in ensuring that no woman gets left behind on the path to across-the-board equality.
As this month comes to a close and we move forward into what will be a busy 2020, it’s important to look back on all aspects of our past in order to truly move forward. Through reflection and the desire to be better we can move on as a society and create a world that is better for us to live in, for our sake and for that of future generations.
