Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month! While we should always be championing women’s achievements, March puts a spotlight on the notable contributions of women across history. The sacrifices that women have made for women have helped our country and the world to become a more inclusive place. This week, we’ll showcase some notable women across history. Who runs the world? Girls!

Writing this blog during March comes straight from my heart. First and foremost, MTT was founded by a woman entrepreneur and is primarily run by women. The more you know! Additionally, I am a product of a women’s college and previously worked as an educator at all girls high school. I know the mark women’s education leaves on the soul and the voice that it gave me. On that note, I think it’s important to examine some of the history around women’s rights and rise, particularly in America.

The beginning

There were a few early starts to Women’s History Month. In 1978, the Sonoma County school district in California established a week long celebration of women’s substantial contributions to society. Other communities picked up on the idea over time and it grew to other school districts and larger organizations nationwide. Jumping ahead to 1980, President Jimmy Carter’s was the first to issue a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8th as “National Women’s History Week”.

The following year, Congress upped the ante by establishing a national celebration. It wasn’t for another 6 years though that the National Women’s History Project launched a successful petitioning of Congress to establish a month observance dedicated to women. Better late than never. Go, ladies!

Theme time

As always, I cannot resist anything with a theme! The National Women’s History Alliance selects an annual theme and dedicates the month’s celebrations around that chosen concept. The theme for 2022 is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” The theme this month is equal parts, “both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and front-line workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.” With reflation to the past 2 years (incredible to think it’s been that long!) this theme seems like a perfect fit to recognize the incredible women who have carried us through these most difficult times.

Getting to know notable ladies during Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month is a great time to do some research on notable women throughout history. By looking at their contributions to their communities, culture and society in general, we begin to see their mark almost everywhere. Some activities we have for your children and students this month are profiles on famous women of note such as Amelia Earhart, Mae C. Jemison and Malala Yousafzai. The profiles first offer a short piece of biographical information on the women. Then, your students can extract information from the biographical paragraph and answer some of the writing prompts. For our artistic souls, we included a piece to draw a picture of the person and a quote so we can ponder their words, their voice and their mission.

• Amelia Earhart Profile
• Susan B. Anthony Profile
• Elizabeth Blackwell Profile
• Malala Yousafzai Profile
• Mae C. Jemison Profile

The women included here are a diverse range of women from across the globe who all achieved great and monumental things in their lives. Some are still living and still chasing greatness like Malala Yousafzai!

Explore further

Take the activities a step further and do some deeper research. The Women’s History Museum page has an incredible collection of biographies on notable women. Do some extra MTTES “homework” and pick some of your favorite women of note or look up someone new and explore their biography to learn about their achievements! You could definitely take any of the women from the site and construct a profile using the format from the ones we provided!

Taking the information from the biographical information in the profiles we provided, try this matching game to pair up the notable woman with the profession/ achievement she was most known for!

Media representation

I’ve recently been re-watching Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, which is just such a great, wholesome show. Frankly, I needed a bit of a break from Dexter and Euphoria and needed to “clean things up a bit”. I came across Dr. Quinn on IMBD and remembered how I loved watching it when I was younger. It definitely stands the test of time for being a great show. And Joe Lando, stands the test of time for hunkiness.

Most importantly, it was a show that had a leading female protagonist who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, go against the grain and live her own life. As a young girl, that stood out to me. It stood out to me again when I came across La Femme Nikita a show about a female assassin with a heart of gold. And then again, when the reign of Buffy the Vampire Slayer took hold. My point is that, representation always matters. For me, it made an impact with these shows to see women excelling at what they were doing. Whether it was practicing medicine in the wild west, covert operations in Europe or dispensing the undead. IMPACT.

Why do we celebrate?

This is always a question students ask- about everything. When I think about why we celebrate women and women- centric history, it seems so obvious and clear to me. I want to impart to my students and to my children, especially to my daughter is that everyone makes their own unique mark on the world. No matter who they are, that mark matters. Celebrating Women’s History Month, Black History Month or Hispanic Heritage Month for example allow us to put a spotlight to the accomplishments of particular groups, especially groups who have been marginalized throughout history.

Women have shown unfaltering courage as they have fought for equal rights and fair treatment. Their bravery and perseverance allow me to have a life that I am able to take for granted in some ways and for that I am forever grateful.

From the women here at MTT, our staff, tutors and families included, Happy Women’s History Month! We’d love to hear from you in the comments who are the women who inspire you? Drop us a line!