Five Fun Facts About Women’s History Month
How did Women’s History Month actually start? Created in 1978, the month celebrating women initially started out as a local celebration in the well known city of Santa Rosa, California as a “Women’s History Week”. The movement rose to fame, with President Jimmy Carter declaring the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week in 1980. It was only until 1987 where the movement gained national power, as the month was passed into law by Congress, designating March as the month for Women’s History Month.
Since Women’s History Month passed by just last month, here are 5 fun facts about the month that celebrates the achievements and contributions of the women in our society today.
1. The 19th amendment didn’t allow all women the right to vote.
- Unfortunately, the enforcement of the 19th amendment, which allowed women to vote, didn’t apply to women of color: African Americans, Asians, or Latinx.
2. Women outlive men in almost every society.
- Suprisingly, the average life expectancy for a woman is 79 years old. That’s 7 years more than the average for a man: 72 years!
3. Marie Curie was the first woman to receive two nobel prizes.
- Marie Curie was well known for her work in discovering radioactivity and radium.
4. Kamala Harris was the first woman vice president.
- Obviously, if you didn’t know! Ms. Harris was sworn in as first female VP alongside President Joe Biden in January 2021.
5. The first women’s history day was held in 1909.
- Prior to Women’s History Month, Woman’s History Day was first celebrated on February 28, 1909 in the heart of New York City!! The holiday celebrated the one-year anniversary of the many women who marched in garment workers’ strikes.
Hopefully you enjoyed learning five new fun facts about Women’s History Month!!
Responses