Women’s History Month: Writing Women Back Into History

Each March, the United States celebrates Women’s History Month. Countries across the world celebrate this event that coincides with International Women’s Day. Before this celebration began in the U.S., women’s history was missing from general knowledge. The Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women began their own celebration, which led to evolution of the celebration.

This year’s theme, Writing Women Back Into History, celebrates the 30th anniversary of the National Women’s History project. According to the National Women’s History Project, who sponsors the efforts, women are frequently left out of the history books even when they are recognized in their own times. In fact, when Women’s History Month was first celebrated in the ‘80s, less than 3 percent of content in teacher training included women. When women were written about, women of color and in fields like math, science and art were omitted.

Today, the landscape is much different. Women’s History Month is well recognized, women’s studies are prominent at universities and women’s educational organizations are well supported.

Still our work is not yet finished as documenting women’s history and ensuring equal acknowledgement and rights are necessary. Consider the following women-related facts recently released from the Census Bureau:

155.8 million females live in the United States (as of October 1, 2009)

At 85 and older, there are twice as many women as men

$35,745 is the median annual earnings of women 15 or older who work year-round, full time

Women earn 77 cents for every $1 earned by a man

29.4 million women 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more education; this is higher than the male number of 28.4

29 percent of women 25 and older have attained a bachelor’s degree

$939 billion in revenue was created by women-owned businesses in 2002

Nearly 6.5 million women-owned businesses existed that same year

66 percent of women 18 and over voted in the 2008 presidential election

59 percent of women 16 and older participate in the workforce

Go to NAWBO Focus Table of Contents >>