How To Honor Women’s History Month This March

Women’s History Month is typically celebrated in March every year, and it can offer an opportunity to honor women’s legacy and recognize the changes that may continue to be needed in society. Remembering women’s contributions, such as Jane Austen’s writings and Dr. Rosalind Franklin’s scientific discoveries, can be one way to celebrate. You can also take time to consider some of the potential issues women continue to encounter today, such as the gender wage gap, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. If you’ve been impacted by these problems or would like to seek a professional’s opinion regarding the best ways to make a change in society, working with a therapist online or in person may be beneficial.

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Each year, the month of March is designated as Women’s History Month. According to the National Women’s History Alliance (formerly known as the National Women’s History Project), the roots of Women’s History Month began in Sonoma County, California, when the county’s Commission on the Status of Women’s Education Task Force started a Women’s History Week celebration in 1978. They selected the week of March 8 since that date is International Women’s Day, a day set aside for the global celebration of women’s achievements. 

It's thought that The Women’s History Institute at Sarah Lawrence College was so impressed by Sonoma County’s event that they began a campaign to establish a National Women’s History Week. Their campaign succeeded. In February 1980, President Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. 

The celebration of Women’s National History Week continued every year, though determining which week it should be became complicated, as March 8 changed days of the week every year. To that end, in 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, which declared the entire month of March as Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate women’s contributions to American history. 

Ever since then, Women’s History Month has further developed and expanded. National and local organizations across the country provide a platform for celebrating Women's History Month and recognizing the contributions of women in the labor force and beyond. The celebrations during Women's History Month are not only limited to formal events but also include a variety of community activities. One example of the ongoing effort to honor women's achievements is the use of exhibitions, like those showcasing the evolution of photography through the lens of female photographers. 

Each annual celebration now has a theme, inviting participants from every country to explore and participate in a global celebration that highlights specific stories of girls and women. Recent themes include 2021’s “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced” and 2024’s “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” Women’s History Month is typically commemorated by several federal government agencies, including the following:

• The Smithsonian Institution
• The Library of Congress
• The National Archives and Records Administration
• The National Endowment for the Humanities
• The National Gallery of Art
• The National Park Service
• The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• The National Archives Museum

Women’s contributions to humanity

Historically, work created and advanced by women has not always been taken as seriously as that of men, or, in some cases, has been outright stolen by men and passed off as their own. To celebrate Women’s History Month, it can be helpful to learn more about some of these potentially overlooked historical figures, such as these powerful women:

Jane Austen

Jane Austen was an author in the 17th century who published her books secretly through her brother, in part to avoid being disregarded as a female “authoress.” Her six novels are widely seen today as an intelligent commentary and critique of wealthy British society during the height of the British Empire, particularly the ways in which the majority of career options for women were limited. Often, making advantageous marriages was the only method of achieving economic stability for Austen’s female characters.

Dr. Rosalind Franklin

Dr. Rosalind Franklin was a scientist who conducted research in the 1940s and 1950s. She had prodigious molecular crystallography skills, and much of her work studying deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was crucial to understanding the double helix structure of the molecule. A male colleague showed her work with James Watson and Francis Crick, who used it as part of their famous “discovery” of the structure of DNA. Watson and Crick won the Nobel prize, and Franklin died of cancer at age 37, largely uncredited for her role in understanding DNA until decades after her death.

Ada Lovelace

Ada Lovelace lived in the 17th century and made significant contributions to the field of mathematics. She developed a method for calculating a sequence of Bernoulli numbers that was integral to the development of computers and software programs, so we can thank her for much of the technological development of the 20th and 21st centuries. 

Harriet Tubman

In celebrating Women's History Month, we also honor Harriet Tubman, a powerful woman whose life and leadership provided hope to countless communities. As the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War, Tubman's achievements extend far beyond her pivotal role in the Underground Railroad. Settling down in Auburn, New York, from 1859 until her passing in 1913, she immersed herself in a hub of progressive thought, abolition, and women's suffrage. Her efforts to guide enslaved people to freedom and her participation in the fight for equality show the spirit of celebrating women who have shaped our history. 

Issues women face today

Some of these issues can include the following:

Equal pay

The phrase “wage gap” generally refers to the gulf between the average pay for a male worker in the United States and the average pay for a female worker doing the same job. Historically, men have usually been paid much more than women for doing the same work, a situation that was not explicitly illegal until the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Equal Pay Act in 1963.

According to a report published last year by the Pew Research Center, the wage gap between men and women seems not to have shifted much in the past 20 years. While differential pay on the basis of sex or gender is generally illegal, a number of factors may continue to contribute to this issue. These factors may include men being more likely to receive promotions at work, jobs that historically have been held by women (like nursing) being valued less, and employers evaluating women less favorably when it comes to merit-based pay raises. 

Sexual harassment

The #MeToo movement demonstrated that sexual harassment and assault often continue to be pervasive in our society, particularly in the workplace and on college campuses. Much of the trauma around experiencing sexual harassment can come from other people minimizing the situation or not believing a woman when she speaks out against a male colleague, especially one in a more powerful position. Educating yourself about what constitutes harassment and ways to speak up when you witness harassment can help to improve this situation.

Domestic violence

Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse within intimate relationships can happen to anyone, regardless of gender or sexuality. It can be important to note, though, that abuse usually disproportionately affects women in heterosexual partnerships. This kind of abuse can lead to women losing their agency, their financial resources, and, in some cases, even their lives. Understanding which behaviors are healthy and unhealthy within a relationship and how to support women in these situations can be beneficial in preventing further abuse. 

If you or a loved one is experiencing abuse, contact the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Support is available 24/7.

Seeking support for women’s challenges

Knowing more about Women’s History Month may inspire you to become an ally, which can be defined as someone who supports and advocates for women’s rights and fundamental freedoms. It can be complex to try to understand the ways you may be contributing to sexism, as well as to determine the most effective ways to combat prejudice and advocate for a more inclusive society for people of all genders. 

While a therapist may be able to support you if you’re experiencing any negative impacts of women’s challenges in our society today, you can also find support for understanding these challenges that women around you might face.  

Benefits of online therapy

In today’s day and age, it can be easy to become overscheduled and for it to seem as if you don’t have the space for one more appointment, even one dedicated to the important topic of women’s equality. If finding the time to attend an in-person therapy appointment doesn’t seem feasible, you may want to try online therapy instead. With online therapy, you can attend virtual appointments with your therapist from the comfort and convenience of your own home, eliminating the need to commute and the time spent sitting in an office waiting room. 

Effectiveness of online therapy

Research has indicated that attending therapy online may be just as effective as attending traditional therapy appointments in person for people of all genders. One study found that online therapy and in-person therapy generally resulted in the same client outcomes when treating a variety of mental health conditions. Online therapy could provide support in navigating a patriarchal society and improving equity for future generations.