Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Betty Friedan. These trailblazers of the women's movement and other powerful females in history will be honored come the first day of March _ the start of National Women's History Month, a time put aside to highlight the historical achievements of women and recognize the obstacles they overcame along the road to success.
The theme for this year's Women's History Month is "Celebrating Women of Courage and Vision." The National Women's History Project organizes the month, hoping that in honoring women's courage and vision, it can set a standard for women and provide inspiration for future generations.
This month serves as an opportunity to educate people about the achievements of women, some of which have long gone unrecognized.
As recently as the 1970s, women's history was virtually absent from the public consciousness. To change this, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County, Calif. Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week" celebration in 1978.
When national leaders of female-oriented organizations learned about the countywide Women's History Week, they decided to create similar celebrations for their own organizations and schools. Within a few years, thousands of schools and communities were celebrating National Women's History Week, supported and encouraged by resolutions from school boards, councils, and governors. Finally, in 1981, the effort to secure a Congressional Resolution from the US Congress declaring "National Women's History Week" succeeded. In 1987, the National Women's History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the celebration to the entire month of March.
March 8 is International Women's Day. Organizations at Tufts will celebrate the occasion along with the second anniversary of the Women's Studies major, as well as a roundtable discussion entitled "Women, Activism, International Perspectives: Student Roundtable in Commemoration of International Women's Day" sponsored by the Women's Center and several academic departments.
"The idea behind the event is to connect International Women's Day and women's studies at Tufts and abroad," said sophomore Liz Monnin, co-chair of the Tufts Feminist Alliance. "There will be several women who have studied women's issues in other countries who will share their experiences."
Students seem to think that the month addresses issues that affect all populations. "People should know about this month," freshman Rick Liu said. "Although women mostly have gained their rights, you constantly need to reinforce the idea of equality time and time again. That's what makes this month important."
Sophomore Shauna Gilmore sees the month as a time to look back on women's achievements and power. "It is important to reflect on the influential women of the past [and] to celebrate their accomplishments," she said. "Not only for us now, but so their legacies last for future generations."
Other students feel that the month-long celebration is not enough.
"I think women's history should be remembered every day, not just this month, because women make up half the population," freshman Rachel Luck said.
