Women's History Month: Honouring Herstory, Inspiring Action

Discover the profound stories and enduring impact of women with "Honouring Herstory During Women’s History Month," a vital course from Diversity and Inclusion ProSkills.training. Officially proclaimed by the United States Congress in 1987, March is dedicated to acknowledging women and their often unsung contributions to history, society, and culture. This essential course explores the complex narrative behind U.S. women’s history, addressing why this significant observance took until 1987 and how it sometimes "misses the mark by tokenizing and alienating the very women it claims to celebrate".

Why This Course Matters: Challenging conventional history that "painted men as the makers of history, leaving women—quite literally—in the margins", this course aims to "fix the narrative" by telling a more inclusive story. You'll learn to reflect on harmful gender inequality, recognise achievements, and work towards a more equitable future. Empower yourself to champion women's equity and inclusion today.

What You Will Discover:

• The Celebration's Journey: Trace the origins from 1857 and 1908 New York City garment worker protests to the first National Woman's Day (1909), International Women's Day (1911), and its final designation as Women's History Month in 1987.
• Addressing Historical Exclusion: Understand why not all women feel honoured, especially those with intersectional identities. Examine how some celebrated figures, like suffragists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, advanced women's rights "at the expense of Black, trans, queer, and other women". Learn about intersectionality as a framework for understanding overlapping discrimination.
• Key Moments in Women's Rights: Journey from Abigail Adams' 1776 plea to the pivotal Seneca Falls Convention (1848), which launched the organised U.S. women's rights movement and its Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions covering suffrage, coverture, workplace, and educational oppression. Explore landmark legal victories including the 19th Amendment (1920), Equal Pay Act (1963), Title VII (1964) and Title IX (1972) of the Civil Rights Act, Roe v. Wade (1973 – overturned 2022), and widespread No-Fault Divorce (by 2010).
• Persistent Inequalities: Confront current challenges, including women's disproportionately greater risk of sexual harassment and violence, the impact of the overturning of Roe v. Wade on reproductive rights, medical misdiagnoses and risks in a world "designed for men". Address workplace inequality like the gender pay gap and the "pink tax"—gender-based pricing disparities.
• Your Power to Act: Gain practical strategies to make a difference: vote, contact elected officials, voice your opinions (social media, letters), attend constituent meetings, donate or volunteer with non-profits, and protest peacefully.

Conclusion: This course invites you to engage deeply with the vibrant and resilient heritage of women. By understanding their history, celebrating their pivotal contributions, and confronting ongoing challenges, you can become an informed and active participant in fostering a more equitable and inclusive society. Your actions and voice possess the power to make a profound difference, ensuring we "write women back into history".