Happy National Women’s History Month! Since 1987, the United States of America has dedicated March to recognizing and celebrating women’s historical, cultural, and societal contributions. Additionally, since 1914, March 8th has been recognized as International Women’s Day.
Women have long faced marginalization and discrimination, with their achievements being overlooked and unappreciated. Consequently, the history of women in the U.S. is filled with leaders who fought for equity and inclusivity. Here is a look back at a few notable historical events and achievements by women:
On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the U.S. to graduate from medical school and become a doctor. Blackwell encountered prejudice and challenges while attending college. Lecturers made her sit in separate rows and frequently barred her from labs. However, she persevered and later opened a small clinic to treat poor women and the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children in 1851 and 1857, respectively.
In 1869, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton established the National Woman Suffrage Association to organize the nationwide suffrage movement. Then, in 1890, the group joined the American Woman Suffrage Association to create the National American Woman Suffrage Association.
On October 16, 1916, Margaret Sanger opened the nation’s first birth control clinic. The clinic was raided after it was declared unlawful due to the “Comstock Laws,” which prohibited the use of birth control. After having to close two more times due to legal issues, Sanger later started the American Birth Control League in 1921, which is the predecessor of Planned Parenthood.
Elizabeth Peratrovich was a Tlingit woman, Grand President of the Alaska Native Sisterhood, and civil rights activist. She was instrumental in the effort to eradicate prejudice against Alaska Natives and other non-white inhabitants of Alaska. Peratrovich’s advocacy eventually led to the passing of the Alaska Equal Rights Act on February 16, 1945.
In 1970, transgender women Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) House. STAR House was a collective created to provide shelter and support to transgender and gender non-conforming youth experiencing homelessness and sex workers. It was also the first transgender women of color-led organization and the nation’s first LGBTQ+ youth refuge.
Wangarĩ Muta Maathai was a Kenyan social, environmental, and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya in 1977 and was elected to the Kenyan parliament in 2002. In 2004, she went on to become the first environmental activist and African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris became the United States of America’s first woman, first Black American, and first South Asian American to be elected Vice President. Following her election in November, Vice President Harris declared, “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.”
Though tremendous strides have been made to eliminate barriers and empower women, there is still work to be done. Collectively, we can achieve a just and equitable global community where women and girls of every race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, and socioeconomic background can flourish.
Sources:
https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org//resources/womens-rights-movement/detailed-timeline/
https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/womens-history-us-timeline
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/transgender-women-activists-history
https://www.biography.com/scientist/elizabeth-blackwell
https://highways.dot.gov/highway-history/general-highway-history/who-elizabeth-peratrovich-story-behind-countrys-first-anti
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2004/maathai/biographical/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-harris/
