The purpose of Women's History Month is to increase consciousness
and knowledge of women's history: to take one month of the year to remember the
contributions of notable and ordinary women, in hopes that the day will soon come
when it's impossible to teach or learn history without remembering these contributions.
A Brief History
In 1978 in California, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County
Commission on the Status of Women began a "Women's History Week" celebration.
The week was chosen to coincide with International Women's Day, March 8. Three years
later, the United States Congress passed a resolution establishing National Women's
History Week.
In 1987, at the request of the National
Women's History Project, Congress expanded the week to a month, and the U.S. Congress
has issued a resolution every year since then, with wide support, for Women's History Month.
The U.S. President also issues a proclamation annually of Women's History Month.
