March is
Women's History Month

The first International Women's Day was celebrated in Europe on March 8, 1911. Women's issues were at the forefront of many heated conversations at the time. Topics like Women's suffrage and Women's rights could turn a civilized dinner into a brouhaha.

Soon the Depression Era of the 1930's took over and women's rights were put on a back burner. Then in the 50's and 60's Betty Friedan started bringing the women's movement back to life and finally by the 1970's many universities started including Women's History in their curriculum.

In 1978 Women's History Week was started in California, and the week of March 8th was chosen to coincide with International Women's Day.

Three years later under a resolution co-sponsored by republican Senator Orrin Hach of Utah and Democrat Representative Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Women's History Week was nationally endorsed and recognized.

In 1987 Congress expanded the week to a month, and the U.S. Congress has issued a resolution every year since then, with wide support, for Women's History Month.

Women's History Month is a chance to increase consciousness and knowledge of women's history. In this one month out of the year the contributions of notable and ordinary women are in the spotlight and acknowledged.

This month is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to remember the women who have paved the way for us and create a little history of our own at the same time.