Women’s History Month began in 1978, as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California, when the Education Task Force of Sonoma County planned a week-long event to coincide with March 8th (International Women’s Day). Women’s History Month was first recognized as a national celebration in 1981 when the US Congress passed legislation authorizing President Reagan to proclaim the week of March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987, the National Women’s History Project petitioned Congress for a month-long designation. Since 1995, the President has issued a series of proclamations designating March as “Women’s History Month."
The theme for 2024 is "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion" which recognizes women who actively work to eliminate bias and discrimination in order to foster equity and inclusion (National Women's History Alliance).
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Sources: US Government site, National Women’s History Museum, & National Women’s History Alliance