OUR TAKE

Women’s History Month has officially been celebrated in the U.S. since 1987 as a time to appreciate women’s contributions to society.

Marie Curie discovered radiation, Helen Keller changed societal attitudes towards disabilities and Angela Davis inspired a generation of activists to challenge systemic oppression. Get the idea?

However, as society enters the future, women continue to face discrimination, harassment and barriers to full participation in education, the workforce, politics, health care and more.

Women have contributed to American society through every avenue, from radical social change like women’s suffrage to innovations in technology like the Hubble Space Telescope, yet women are still not treated as the integral part of society that they are.

Rather than patting women on the back for progress already made, Women’s History Month should be branded as a time of reflection and contemporary education— a time to recognize how far society has come and how far it still has to go.

By revising public school history curricula to create a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of women’s contributions to society, schools can empower the youth to strive for social change.

This plan for education can apply year-round, but by reserving one month to commemorate women’s accomplishments, there can be special recognition and a momentum for action.

Aside from education, using social media platforms where so many people are already dedicating their attention to advocating for change will provide this special recognition.

For instance, campaigns like #MeToo and #TimesUp have used the digital landscape to bring widespread attention to the issue of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, created safe spaces for surivors to share their stories and led to concrete policy changes.

For example, in response to the #MeToo movement, the Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers agreed to a ban on auditions in private hotel rooms and Uber implemented a new policy requiring mandatory sexual harassment training for all employees.

By highlighting ways to work towards social justice, true equality and anti-sexism, people can inspire each other to take action and create positive change.

Social media platforms in conjunction with education reform can help create a more inclusive and equitable society for women.

By taking advantage of the momentum created during Women’s History Month and continuing to push for progress throughout the year, we can work towards a future where women are truly valued and respected as integral members of society.