What began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, Calif. has grown into an official acknowledgment of women’s contributions, otherwise known as Women’s History Month. Since 1987, the annual month-long celebration highlights American women who’ve made groundbreaking contributions as well as uplifts women to help get through various issues that exist today.
From Claudia Jones, journalist and scholar whose work centered, women gender and race, to activist Mary Tape, who won a landmark case against the San Francisco Board of Education, which guaranteed Chinese children the right to a public school education, the list of inspiration women who’ve paved the way for others goes on and on. While the accomplishments of these trailblazers can hardly be contained by a single month, we’ve highlighted eight ways you can honor Women’s History Month from home and continue to support the women of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Get familiar with current women’s issues
Despite the celebration and notable strides made by women, the fight to gain equality is still an uphill one. Women still earn significantly less than men, with pay gap widening the most between men and women of color. Hate crimes against Black trans women continue to run rampant, states routinely infringe upon reproductive rights, workplace harassment is an ongoing issue for women, and discrimination against women during the hiring process is still occurring, as seen through the grossly underrepresentation in STEM fields.
Read and share works by women authors
Whether you’re looking to indulge in some critical analysis about the women’s movement, take stock of all the marvelous accomplishments made by women to date, or are simply in the mood to be mentally whisked away by a really good novel, make sure women authors are on your reading list for this month. In Cherie Dimaline’s dystopian novel “The Marrow Thieves,” dreams are nonexistent, and bone marrow is in short supply, placing the lives of the Indigenous people of North America in peril. Another must-read book is “Hood Feminism” by author, critic and activist Mikki Kendall, which challenges the tenets of mainstream feminism and its lack of inclusivity.
Donate to charities that center women’s causes
Looking for a way to support women on the quest to equality? Consider making a financial donation to the cause. Population Action International (PAI) is a non-government organization that aims to expand global access to reproductive health care and family planning; Among its many causes, Incite! focuses on ending state violence against women of color and community building among women, trans people, and gender non-conforming people of color. A New Way of Life assists formerly incarcerated women with housing, pro bono legal services, case management and more. Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network, International address the global climate crisis and socio-economic disparities.
Attend virtual events celebrating women
Honor the lives of phenomenal women whose legacies continue to influence generations by taking in one of several online exhibits hosted by The National Women’s History Museum. On Wednesday, March 10, the New York State Museum will present various artifacts donated by women. Join the UCLA Planetarium on March 31 as it honors women astronomers and their space-related discoveries.
Over at The National Museum of American History, the history of women’s fight for the right to vote is explored in Creating Icons: How We Remember Woman Suffrage, a virtual exhibit that aims to tell the full story of the pursuit of voting rights, complete with dedicated sections to activists who are often erased from history as well an analysis on why and how “diversity in membership, leadership, and goals has aroused controversy in modern American women’s movements.”
Amplify women musicians
Giving women entertainers a few extra streams during Women’s History Month is a simple way to help them remain afloat in an industry that is rife with hostility, sexism, exploitation and abuse directed towards women. Make room on your playlist for tunes by musicians like bilingual Houston-born singer/songwriter Alaina Castillo, Grammy-nominated country songstress Mickey Guyton, and indie rock artist Japanese Breakfast.
Watch TV shows and films produced and directed by women
While there remains a dearth of women being nominated for awards in television, it certainly isn’t due to lack of talent. British actress Michaela Coel starred in, wrote, executive produced and co-directed “I May Destroy You”, a TV series about the lead character’s attempts to cope with the trauma after being sexually assaulted. Created and directed by all women, Starz drama series “P-Valley” follows the lives of exotic dancers at a small-town Mississippi Delta strip club.
Alice Wu directed last year’s “The Half of It,” a Netflix romantic comedy about a timid high school girl helping the school jock win over a girl with whom they both are smitten; Sydney Freeland directed 2017’s “Deidra & Laney Rob a Train,” and worked with producer/director Ava DuVernay on NBC’s “Sovereign,” which will be the first Native American family drama on network TV.
Watch documentaries that explore women’s issues
There are plenty of documentaries out there to watch on behalf of Women’s History Month. One must-watch is “She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry,” which dissects the women’s liberation movement in the 1960s. Another is “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” where activist Victoria Cruz re-examines the death of her friend Johnson, a trans woman and leader of New York City’s transgender rights movement whose death was ruled a suicide despite suspicious circumstances.
Choose a challenge for International Women’s Day
On March 8, the theme for International Women’s Day is “Choose to Challenge.” Celebrate and uplift women around the world by championing our causes. Whether it’s spreading awareness about the gender pay gap, calling out bias, maintaining a gender equal mindset, or dedicating the entire day to strictly purchasing goods from women-owned businesses, be intentional about helping us move one step closer to equality for all. And don’t be shy about it! Share your contribution by posting on social media using the hashtag #ChoosetoChallenge and #IWD2021.
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