Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate! Celebrate Women’s History Month! The vast majority of ancient cultures were patriarchal, and often held women low in esteem and restricted their freedom. Over the centuries, many brave women have stood up to fight inequality and champion these causes for society and future women. The work they did to remove barriers and walls allowed women of the future to move forward with less resistance. Women’s History Month is dedicated to these women. Although not officially recognized around the globe, the first traces of this movement towards equality for women can be found in the early 1900s, when there was much debate and unrest over the oppression and inequality of women. Although many celebrations and gatherings for women took place in February at first, they moved to March later. Women were still not experiencing equality even after women gained the right to vote in many Western nations in the early 1900s. Many women didn’t like the idea of returning to their home in aprons after all their hard work during World War II. Many women wanted more, and they began to express their desire for more. Gerda Lerner, a historian and activist, stated in 1986 that “When I began working on womens history around thirty years ago, the field was not even possible.” People didn’t believe women had a history that was worth knowing.” In 1986, Gerda Lerner, a historian and activist, stated, “When I started working on women’s history about thirty years ago, it wasn’t possible to have one.” Her pioneering work led to the introduction of Women’s Studies programs in universities. The remarkable contributions of women are now documented as part history. In 1975, the United Nations recognized International Women’s Day. Women’s History Month and Women’s History Week are extensions of this. Women’s History Month will feature a variety of community events, web series, television programs, and entertainment specials. These events are meant to reflect on the achievements of women, as well as to remind us that we still have work to do. You can read a biography of a female pioneer. You might choose Amelia Earhart as one of the pioneers of women in aviation. Or, you could read about the women who helped to create the movement and the suffragettes Elizabeth Cady Stanton or Susan B. Anthony. It’s the perfect time to volunteer at a local organization that supports women in many ways. You can get involved now, whether through the Helen Keller Foundation that provides medical care or the National Women’s Law Center which focuses on women’s issues.