March 1 is the day people all over the world celebrate Women’s History Month. The month celebrates women all over the world, and their accomplishments which have helped shape society today.
The celebration during this month dates back to 1978, where it was originally celebrated for a week, rather than a month. This is because International Women’s Day is on March 8, and the government didn’t think much about dedicating the month to women. It was not until 1995 that congress proclaimed March as Women’s History Month, according to the National Women’s History Museum.
According to History.com, “Women’s History Month is a dedicated month to reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of women to U.S. history.” From Amelia Earhart to Harriet Tubman, women’s contributions to math, science, engineering, and more have had a major impact on society and the world.
One famous figure which has had an impact on physics and chemistry was Marie Curie. According to an article by Britannica, she was a Polish-born French physicist, famous for her work on radioactivity. Her major accomplishments include the discovery of polonium, radium, and the theory of radioactivity. Due to her work, she was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, one in Physics and one in Chemistry. Her work has had a huge impact on physicists, chemists, and scientists today.
Another overlooked woman who has made history and impacted the world today is Maya Angelou. Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Angelou was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. In 2010, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., by President Barack Obama. Angelou was awarded over 50 honorary degrees before her death,” according to the Poetry Foundation.
“There are a lot of women who have made extremely important contributions to society that have been overlooked,” Ms. Everett, a librarian at Briar Woods High School explains, “Ruth Bader Ginsburg is one of my personal heroes.”
While the month is mainly in acknowledgement for the women who have made an impact in society, many take the time to appreciate their own female icons. “My mom because she is a small business owner and has a really inspiring story,” Divij Satapathy, a sophomore at Briar Woods shares who he looks up to the most.
It is important to recognize the women of the past, present, and future, especially during Women’s History Month.
