By: Grace Blumer-Lamotte

Presidents have been issuing yearly proclamations for certain months ever since 1995. Women’s History Month is in March of every year. 

According to the official Women’s History Month website, “Celebration of contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.” 

Some of the well-known women that made contributions towards Women’s History Month include: Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Abigail Adams, and Sojourner Truth. 

Rosa Parks deserves a major role in women’s history because she helped initiate the Civil Rights Movement. According to History.com, “She refused to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955.” She was one of the first woman, of African American descent, that stood up against racism on public transport. 

Susan B. Anthony is another woman that deserves considerable recognition. According to History.com, “Anthony was a pioneer in the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the United States and president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.”

Abigail Adams is yet another woman that also deserves better recognition. I personally have never heard her name. I also asked a couple of other students and they didn’t know who she was either. According to History.com, “Adams was one of only two women to have been both wife and mother to two U.S. presidents (the other being Barbara Bush). This all happened starting in 1774. 

Sojourner Truth is one of the many women that have an amazing story also.  According to History.com, “Truth was an African American evangelist, abolitionist, women’s right activist and author who was born into slavery before escaping freedom in 1826.” 

I asked two freshman girls, one freshman guy, and one junior girl these questions: 

• Do you know what Women’s History Month is? 
• Do you know why we celebrate Women’s History Month?

One of the freshman girls answered, “I know of it.” She then answered, “I don’t know why we celebrate it but I feel like I might have a big idea of why.” She explained that there are important women in history.

The other freshman girl answered, “I know what Women’s History Month is.” She then proceeded to answer, “I really don’t know why we celebrate it.”

The freshman boy answered, “I have heard of Women’s History month but I don’t know anything about it.”

The junior girl answered, “Yes I know of Women’s History Month. I think it is a month to celebrate the women that did good things in history. Such as Rosa Parks and other women.”

Seeing as how most know about Women’s History month’s existence, but not its significance, it’s important to enlighten people as much as possible.