Happy Women's History Month! Here's what to know about how it started and the 2024 theme

Highlighting the achievements and societal contributions of the diverse peoples that make up the United States is important year-round, and occasions like Black History Month in February and Native American Heritage Month in November serve to uplift the voices in these groups.

In March, the national spotlight turns to women as the U.S. celebrates Women’s History Month.

Fighting for equality, historical and modern-day changemakers, and their contributions are an integral part of society, and this Women’s History Month, we’re taking a deep dive into why the month was created, how it is celebrated and more.

When is Women’s History Month?

Women’s History Month is celebrated annually in March.

In 2024, Women’s History Month runs from Friday, March 1, to Sunday, March 31.

What is Women’s History Month?

Women’s History Month is a month dedicated to reflecting on the often-overlooked contributions of women to U.S. history, according to History.

Throughout the month, efforts to highlight the achievements of women leaders and changemakers, both past and present and from diverse backgrounds, are plentiful.

Women often highlighted during Women’s History Month include Misty Copeland, the first Black woman to be named a principal dancer in the 75-year history of the American Ballet Theatre in 2015; Sacagawea, a Native American woman who helped Lewis and Clark successfully fulfill their expedition to map parts of the West in the early 19th century; Harriet Tubman, a formerly enslaved abolitionist who helped lead other enslaved people to freedom during the Civil War; and Amelia Earhart, one of the world’s first female pilots and the first person to fly a solo, nonstop flight across the U.S.

If those women sound impressive, there are plenty more impactful women standing among their ranks.

When was Women’s History Month created?

Women’s History Month was first celebrated in 1987, but the true origins of the recognition date back further.

Women’s History Month started out as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California — Women’s History Week.

It was established in 1978 by the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women in California, who designated the week of March 8 as Women’s History Week to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8. Soon, the movement spread across the country, and the world, as more communities initiated their own celebrations the following year, according to the National Geographic Kids.

In 1980, the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women’s History Alliance) led a consortium of women’s groups and historians in their efforts to lobby for national recognition, which they achieved. By February of that year, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week.

Presidents after Carter continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March, until Congress passed Public Law 100-9 in 1987 designating March as Women’s History Month, reports the National Women’s History Museum.

Since 1995, each U.S. president has issued annual proclamations designation the month of March as Women’s History Month.

Women’s History Month 2024 theme

Each year, the National Women’s History Alliance chooses a theme to celebrate Women’s History Month.

Past themes include “Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet” in 2009, “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced” in 2020 and 2021, “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope” in 2022 and “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories” in 2023, according to National Geographic Kids.

This year, the National Women’s History Month theme is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.”

According to the National Women’s History Alliance, the 2024 theme recognizes women throughout the country who believe a positive future can only be achieved by eliminating bias and discrimination “entirely from our lives and institutions.”

Throughout the year, the alliance is focused on uplifting women, past and present, committed to embracing everyone and excluding in a common quest for freedom and opportunity, according to the website.

As equity, diversity and inclusion continue to be powerful forces of change, the alliance feels that reflecting on society and governing forces through this lens and educating youth about the importance of diversity will continue to uplift and support women of all ages, locations and experiences.

“Women from every background have long realized that an uneven playing field will never bring equality or justice. Many feel the critical need to speak up and work harder for fairness in our institutions and social interactions,” said the National Women’s History Alliance. “It takes courage for women to advocate for practical goals like equity, diversity and inclusion when established forces aim to misinterpret, exploit or discredit them.”

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Celebrating Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month is all about reflecting on the contributions of women and celebrating their past and present achievements.

To celebrate the occasion this year, consider reading about women with historical impact, supporting women-owned businesses and engaging with local women’s groups and initiatives.

On International Women’s Day on March 8, which was first observed in 1911, countries around the world gather to celebrate the holiday with educational initiatives, demonstrations and uplifting women in local communities by gifting flowers or other gifts, reports History.

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Influential women in Delaware

Delaware is home to plenty of women who exemplify what Women’s History Month is all about, and the First State has examples of notable women whose work directly aligns with this year’s Women’s History Month theme.

Madinah Wilson-Anton serves in the Delaware House of Representative for district 26, covering Newark and Bear, as a Democrat. Upon being elected to office in November of 2020, she became the first practicing Muslim elected to the Delaware General Assembly.

Senator Sarah McBride represents the First State Senate District, which includes Claymont, Bellefonte and parts of Edgemoor and Wilmington. When McBride was elected in November of 2020, she became the first openly transgender state senator in American history.

McBride also is one of the youngest Delawareans to be awarded the Order of the First State, the state’s highest civilian honor, which she received from former Gov. Jack Markell.

Lisa Blunt Rochester serves as the U.S. representative for Delaware’s at-large congressional district and is a Democrat. Holding the position since 2017, Blunt Rochester is the first woman and first Black woman to represent Delaware in Congress.

Elena Delle Donne, a native Delawarean, is an WNBA powerhouse whose career highlights include picks as a WNBA All-Star, WNBA Most Valuable Player, top 25 WNBA player of all time and gold-medal Olympian. Aside from her skills on the court, Delle Donne lives with Lyme disease and is an advocate for Lyme disease research and awareness through the Elle Delle Donne Foundation, which also highlights special needs programs and animal welfare work.

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com. 

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Why is Women's History Month celebrated? Holiday facts, 2024 theme