Women’s History Month became a national celebration starting in 1981, celebrating women everywhere throughout the world. Every year during the month of March, women celebrate different themes for their history. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” 

This year’s theme celebrates women who storytell and share their stories, and heritage throughout the past and present. Throughout the month, women from across the country hold different events, including online events, discussion panels, gallery talks, festivals and more to talk about and celebrate the history of women. 

Passing down stories about the history of women is an important way to keep the history alive. Gaining knowledge from one generation to the next, continuously for centuries, keeps the knowledge of women’s fight for rights alive and known throughout the world. Listening to the troubles and battles that women had to go through to gain fundamental rights in their lives is important to hear and learn.

Women fought for their rights for centuries trying to gain basic human rights. Women were not granted the right to vote until 1920 when the 19th amendment was approved. Women in today’s world are constantly still fighting, too. The biggest fight this year has been the fight for reproductive rights. Women had fought for rights like employment and equal pay or leadership and government due to not having these basic rights that all men had already been granted. 

“We’ve fought for years to be able to have equality and quite often women aren’t recognized for their attributions, physicians and mathematicians, commonly women. It is important to recognize females on their accomplishments and achievements, because they are just as capable as their male counterparts,” English teacher Ms. Heather Giammarria said.

“Women have been discriminated against in science for a very long time and having women in science, especially women in STEM is vital to provide role modeling for our young ladies who might otherwise avoid science,” Physics teacher Dr. Brian Wargo said.

Women as mathematicians, physicians and other fields such as those, are undermined with the work they complete and the tasks they accomplish throughout their careers. Women in STEM have been undermined and unappreciated for centuries based on their gender.

“Women in my life have been incredible role models in both personal and professional ways. I would not be where I am today without their influence and I hope to pass that influence down to the next generations of girls,” English teacher Ms. Blaire Lasko said. 

This year’s theme ultimately highlights and spotlights women in media, women who have played a huge role in storytelling and who have used their voice. From oral to written pieces of information, women have been sharing stories throughout history on their fight for their rights. Women impact everyone’s lives, and should not have to fight for their basic human rights. Their significant contributions to society should be recognized and not pushed to the side by reason of their gender.