Womens History Month (and Why Every Woman Matters)
By: Summer Wadleigh
The upcoming month of March is not only to be associated with the picturesque glow of spring’s bloom. This month takes on a special importance as it simultaneously acts as Women’s History Month. Women from all parts of the world and from every time period have aided in shaping the world in which we all exist today, and it does not stop there. Creating history is not solely involving the past, but it happens every single day, through the work and dedication of every woman. Here is a recollection of achievements and impact accredited to some powerful women throughout the 21st century.
The first woman up for discussion is American labor activist, Ai-Jen Poo. Poo is the co-founder and Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, a non-profit organization that aids in establishing fairness towards workers who clean homes, many of which are immigrants or women of color. This alliance has heavily contributed to political activism as well, over nine states having passed the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, providing these workers with minimum wage protections. Ai-Jen Poo has also launched Caring Across Generations in 2011, which specializes in changing the cultural standards associated with aging and care. She has received a plethora of awards commending her for her work in domestic care such as the Leadership for a Changing World Award, the Union Square Award, and the Woman of Vision Award from Ms. Foundation for Women. Poo has worked throughout her career to bring awareness to situations in which most people simply turn a blind eye, and through this work she aided in normalizing the conversation of rights for women and immigrant laborers.
Another woman who has heavily impacted history through her work is American philosopher and gender theorist, Judith Butler. Through novels such as Undoing Gender (2004), a novel that explores gender, sex, sexuality, psychoanalysis, and the medical treatment of intersex people, and Giving an Account of Oneself (2005), a novel that reflects on the limitations of self knowledge and theorizes this in relation to preexisting societal norms, Butler has brought previously stigmatized topics to light. She has impacted a wide range of fields such as queer theory, continental philosophy, and psychoanalysis. Butler has changed the way scholars and officials view identity through her work in sexuality and gender. She has received awards such as the Theodor W. Adorno Award and the Mellon Award for these contributions. Butler has permanently changed the way people discuss minorities through both her novels and her activism.
Lastly, a woman who has had a great impact on history is 52nd Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi, as of 2007, was the first woman ever to become the Speaker of the House, as well as becoming second-in-line to presidency in 2019, being the first person in over 60 years to do so. Pelosi advocates for issues such as lowering health care costs and increasing workers pay through economic growth. Before making history as the first female Speaker of the House, Pelosi represented California’s 12th District, San Francisco, in Congress for 31 years. She has received various praise for her achievements, such as being inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame at the American women’s rights movement’s place of origin in Seneca Falls, and being referred to as “one of the most productive Congresses in history” by Congressional scholar by Norman Ornstein. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Affordable Care Act are just some of Pelosi’s contributions in providing relief for American families as well as affordable health coverage. Pelosi has paved the way for more women to immerse themselves in political activism, inspiring change throughout the nation.
In brief, this has been a list made to acknowledge the work of a few women who have forever altered the course of history, but also made to voice my own individual message revolving around Women’s History Month. Impact is not solely global, solely national, or even solely regional. Impact is something that affects us all, and can lie in the heart of a single person. The month of March is not specific to the widely recognized names, but for the women that shape the stories of each individual life. Our mothers, our grandmothers, our daughters and sisters, all contribute to a piece of history each day they are alive. So as Women’s History Month is celebrated by people all the world, remember that history lies in the heart and in the spirit of every woman.
Sources:
- domesticworkers.org
- phinational.org
- thecut.com
- pelosi.house.gov