Women’s History Month: How Will You Make History?
Women’s History Month in 2020 celebrates Valiant Women Of The Vote.
As March was declared by U.S. Congress in 1987 as Women’s History Month—lengthened from the original week seven years earlier—it is time in 2020 to salute this year’s theme, “Valiant Women of the Vote.”
“As March was declared by U.S. Congress in 1987 as #WomensHistoryMonth, it is time in 2020 to salute this year’s theme, “Valiant Women of the Vote.””
In an election year that will not see a woman as a final presidential candidate, the theme can expand to include the past of women who fought for voting parity as well as the present and future advocates for voting women and equality.
Read more in Take The Lead on honoring women’s history
While one month out of 12 is not enough to honor the women pioneers, entrepreneurs, leaders, innovators and thinkers throughout history, it’s a start. What each of us can do is decide how to build a legacy of fairness for women and to be our best ambitious selves in order to make history.
“Each of us can decide how to build a legacy of fairness for women and to be our best ambitious selves in order to make history. #WomensHistoryMonth #Herstory”
Understandably, it has not been an easy path to even acknowledge the critical importance of women leaders throughout history.
Kimberly Hamlin writes in the Washington Post, “Women’s History Month was designed to bridge these gaps in knowledge, with the understanding history always has political ramifications in the present. In his presidential proclamation, Jimmy Carter declared ‘understanding the true history of our country will help us to comprehend the need for full equality under the law for all our people.’ He then used the occasion to urge ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.”
The ERA is still not ratified.
Three weeks remain in the 2020 Women’s History Month, still time for each individual to salute an iconic figure, to honor a current mentor who is making history or to strive to make history herself.
“In the remainder of 2020 #WomensHistoryMonth, salute an iconic figure, honor a current mentor who is making history, or strive to make history yourself. #Herstory”
Fashion industry titan Diane Von Furstenberg in honor of Women’s History Month, launches a new project with Amazon, #InCharge. That includes “a #InCharge page, where consumers can read stories of inspiring female business owners and buy their products. They can also purchase items from an exclusive capsule collection, as well as books from a von Furstenberg-curated reading list, available throughout Women’s History Month,” according to Forbes.
“Fashion industry titan @DVFin honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, launches a new project with @Amazon, #InCharge. ”
Read more in take The Lead from Gloria Feldt on Women’s History Month
Maneet Ahuja writes in Forbes “‘The #InCharge movement is a platform, a place to rally, to use our individual connections to help all women be the women they want to be,’ Furstenberg says. And so I thought it would be fun to work with Amazon which is such a huge platform to expose people to the inspiring stories of women in charge that have started businesses and seen significant success, [in part] thanks to Amazon.’”
“The @officialNWHP is honoring three living legends making history today, as well as nine historic legends contributing to the #equality of women. #Herstory”
The Women’s History Alliance is honoring three living legends making history today, as well as nine historic legends contributing to the equality of women.
Read more in take The Lead on Women’s History Month
Maria Teresa Kumar, CEO of Voto Latino, that this year “announced they are committed to registering 1 million voters by the 2020 election.” Recently, Voto Latino has expanded their platform and now provides resources for young people on topics of immigration, healthcare access, and professional development, according to The Alliance. Kumar is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, Aspen Institute Scholar, Hunt Alternative Fund Prime Mover, and a Council of Foreign Relations Lifetime Member.
Eleanor Holmes Norton is a Congressional Representative for the District of Columbia, and has been elected to 15 terms. From 1965 to 1970, Norton served as the assistant legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union. In 1970 she was appointed head of the New York City Human Rights Commission where she held the nation’s first hearings on discrimination against women. President Carter appointed her the first female chair of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. She serves on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, according to the Alliance.
Terry Ao Minnis, Director of the Census and Voting Programs, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, is a key leader on campaigns reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act, according to the Alliance. Minnis sat on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2010 Census Advisory Committee from 2002 until 2011. She is also the co-chair of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Census Task Force, a coalition that works to promote and protect civil and human rights for all people.
Edith Mayo, curator Emerita for Political History at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, created the exhibit, Parlor to Prison that ran there for 10 years. She is the author of First Ladies: Political Role and Public Image (1995), The Smithsonian’s Book of First Ladies: Their Lives, Times, and Issues (1996), and Presidential Families (2006).
Read more from Gloria Feldt on who writes history
For Women’s History Month, Fairygodboss reports from their own research and community feed, that “promoting more women into leadership is the #1 thing an employer can do to make it more likely for a woman to stay in her current role or company (followed by improving compensation).”
Fairygodboss also reports, “Women experience higher job satisfaction when they perceive equal treatment, have access to paid family leave, and flexible working schedules. Regardless of race, age, education level, income, parental status, location, and relationship status, paid parental leave is the benefit most women say makes them view a company more positively, more likely to apply for a job, and more likely to stay at their current employer.”
“@Fairygodboss reports, “Women experience higher job satisfaction when they perceive equal treatment.” #WomensRights #EqualRights”
Still, only 39% of women reported having access to this benefit through their employer, according to Fairygodboss.
“Only 39% of women reported having access to #paidfamilyleave through their employer, according to #Fairygodboss. #WomensRights”
“Know your history,” has been a Leadership Power Tool as created and developed by Gloria Feldt, president and co-founder of Take The Lead.
““Know your history,” has been a Leadership #PowerTool as created and developed by @GloriaFeldt, president and co-founder of @takeleadwomen. #Womensleadership”
In the revamped set of new Leadership Power Tools that she unveiled at the recent Power Up Conference, Feldt says a new tool is, “Believe in the Infinite Pie, because when we use our power to build up rather than rule over others, we learn that the more there is, the more there is.”
In honoring Women’s History Month in 2020, that translates to women today and tomorrow continuing to add to a dynamic and ever evolving history of women contributing to society across a wide timeline.
