Throughout history, remarkable women have worked to overcome stereotypes, discrimination and even violence, in order to further women’s advancement and build greater generations for the future. The month of March recognizes these women’s sacrifices, and celebrates the strong women of our past who laid the foundation for the strong women of our future.
This National Women’s History Month, you can honor women who have strived to make a difference in the world, along with women in your community today. Check out some of these ideas to help you celebrate this month.
Remember women’s history.
What better way to celebrate National Women’s History Month than by actually checking out some valuable women’s history? Whether it’s visiting your local museum or road tripping to a famous women’s historic location (Women’s Rights National Historic Park, anyone?), taking time to remember some of the history that has gotten us this far as a society is a valuable way to support women today.
If you have a family, use this month as a chance to teach children why women’s rights are important, and how they have developed over the years. Enjoy activities centered on powerful women in history, or maybe even watch a famous movie to celebrate.
Use female-created inventions.
Another great way to support women this month is to intentionally use inventions created by women. Women have often gone unrecognized and under appreciated throughout history for the valuable contributions they have made, but you can use March as a chance to recognize the great utilities many women have brought us. Check out this list for example:
- Wash your dishes in a dishwasher, brought to you by Josephine Cochrane in 1886.
- Drive in the rain, with your windshield wipers by Mary Anderson in 1903.
- Drink coffee with a coffee filter, thanks to Melitta Benz in 1908.
- Clean up with Scotchgard, invented by chemist Patsy Sherman in 1932.
- Use a computer, thanks in part to Grace Hopper in 1944.
Celebrate women’s art.
Whether it’s Jane Austen, Georgia O’Keeffe or Aretha Franklin, celebrate female artists this month by reading a historic book, visiting an art gallery or listening to women-empowering music. Or, enjoy a fun family night out by watching a female-centric movie like The Hunger Games or Divergent. Whatever you decide to do this month, celebrate women’s contributions to the artistic world and the hard work they have put in to build a more diverse community.
Support female-owned businesses.
If you want to help foster an environment for women’s empowerment in your community, check out any locally female-owned businesses. Whether it’s a cafe, restaurant or retail store, when you support women’s businesses, you support women in your community as well. If you can, consider even meeting or talking with the owner, and learning her perspective on being a female entrepreneur and business-owner. When you give back to your community, you help create a better world for young girls to grow into.
Talk about women’s rights with your family.
If you have a family or children, celebrate Women’s History Month by teaching them important lessons about women’s rights and advancement. When children learn about how far women have come, they too can recognize and celebrate how far they are going. Whether it’s reading a short story by Maya Angelou or learning about the Seneca Falls Convention, women-centered activities are a great way to teach kids about female history, while having fun.
This March, get involved with National Women’s History Month by trying out some of these ideas. Whatever you do, use this time to remember the women who have made historic strides, and honor women in your community who continue to advocate for women’s rights.
