The story behind Women's History Month

Women’s History Month recognizes and celebrates brilliant women for their outstanding historical contributions, and Alfred University certainly participates in the month of celebration.

WHM began as Women’s History Week in 1978. The Commission on the Status of Women, an agency promoting equality and justice for all women and girls, organized the event. Almost a decade later, Congress expanded the celebration to include the entire month of March.

Every year the National Women's History Project chooses a theme and particular women to recognize and honor. This year’s theme is “Writing Women Back into History.” These themes recognize women’s achievements in art, sports and politics.

“I’m more in favor of it than not,” said History Professor Vicki Eaklor on the significance of Women’s History Month. “I do think it gives us a chance to specifically remember the role of women not only in historical events but to remember there’s such a thing as women’s history that might not be defined in a way that traditional history is defined,” she continued.

Although many have questioned the significance of Women’s History Month, Eaklor insists on its importance. “When you have anything with 'women’s' in front of it, the response is often ‘where’s Men’s History Month?’ But for so long the only thing we studied was what might be called 'men’s history.'"

To celebrate this Women’s History Month, the Women's Studies Department and the Women’s Leadership Center sponsored events including the Riley Lecture on March 22, titled “Girls Going Wild: Facts and Myths about Girls and Violence” by Dr. Chesney-Lind, a professor from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.