‘Champion of Peace and Nonviolence’ celebrating women in 2019

March is finally here and with it the celebration of the ‘History of Women’. The movement towards celebrating women for an entire month has been working progress. The first ever ‘History of Women’ day took place on February 28th 1909, in New York City. The day was created to honour the one year anniversary of garnet workers striking in demand for economic rights. In less than two years this day was to be celebrated internationally. 

Women continued fighting for female acknowledgement, they began addressing the complete lack of recorded female achievements within US history books. During the 1970s the ‘National Women’s History Project’ was made. ‘Women’s History week’ was then created in 1978, not long after International Women’s Day, first created in 1975. Women were now begining to be recognised not only in the present day but for achievements historically. 

Women’s History Institute held a conference with President Jimmy Carter where the first national Women’s History Week started in 1980. Not long after this week turned into an entire month. The first official proclamation of Women’s History Month in 1987. 

Every year ‘Women’s History Month’ possesses a new theme, 2019’s being ‘Visionary Women: Champion of Peace and Nonviolence.’ This is to honour women who have fought to end war, violence and injustice. Those looking for a change, practicing nonviolence within their society. 

Every year ‘Women’s National History month’ is key to acknowledging work women have done throughout history. As President Jimmy Carter claimed in 1980 “Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. 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. “

The celebration of this month now internationally recognizes women and female efforts throughout history.