Today is International Women’s Day which falls into March’s Women’s History Month. Did you know that Women’s History Month has a theme? It is Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
History
Before it was Women’s History Month, Women’s History Week was celebrated first during the week beginning March 7, 1982, with Congressional approval through Pub. L. 97-28 in 1981.
Watch this short video (2:32) from the National Women’s History Museum about how former Legislative Aid Susan Scanlan assisted Maryland Representative Barbara Mikulski in the effort: “Susan Scanlan and the History of Women's History Month.”
Women’s History Month legislation passed in 1987. The National Women’s History Project, now known as the National Women’s History Alliance, lobbied Congress to designate March as Women’s History Day.
Looking for things to do for Women’s History Month?
- Events
Celebrating Women in STEM: A New Era of Achievements and Outcomes: March 8, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Virtual: Use this link to register
Women’s Center: Women Empowerment Week: March 18 to 23: Highlights include the Empow-Her-ment Gala at 7 p.m. on March 23 in the Sheldon Hall Ballroom: Visit this link for information and tickets
Gender and Women Studies: Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Surgeon, Radical, and Reformer: March 18, 1:50 to 2:45 p.m., Lanigan 101: Listen to a talk about Mary Walker, the second woman in the United States to get a medical degree and the only female Medal of Honor recipient to date. Organizers will show her family history, her service in the U.S. Civil War, and the passionate campaigns she waged for the rest of her life for women's rights, female suffrage and dress reform.
Native American Studies: Marano Campus Center Tabling for Red Dress Day: March 18 to 22 and March 25 to 29: In preparation for Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, on May 5, student and staff tabling will bring awareness about the upcoming activities. Stop by to learn about the planning in May.
- Check out books and videos or head to the Archive in the Penfield Library:
Consider a book recommendation: “Gathering words = Recogiendo palabras” by María Luisa Arroyo, comes recommended by Roberta Hurtado, associate professor of English and creative writing. It is available in the library
- Interview women in your community, family members, SUNY Oswego faculty, staff, administrators and others to learn about their experiences.
- Test your knowledge by completing one of these quizzes from the National Women's History Alliance.
- Educate yourself about diversity, equity and inclusion-related topics involving international women, transwomen, pay disparity impacting women, women's rights and many more.
Interested in doing an event, a program next semester or giving feedback on these entries? Please feel free to complete this form.
-- Submitted by the Triandiflou Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Transformative Practice