Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future

Women's History Month, is a month-long celebration observed in March all over the world. It matters because it honors the profound, often overlooked contributions of women, celebrates trailblazers from the suffrage movement to modern leaders, and highlights the ongoing fight for equity in pay and rights. It serves as a necessary, dedicated time for empowerment and advocacy.

There are numerous history/awareness months that celebrate different historically marginalized groups; those who have been written out of the story. Women's History Month celebrates the significant progress we have made to have our deserved seat at the table, and to stand in solidarity as we continue on the path toward total equality. There is still work to do. There is work to do for equal treatment of all women — women of color, women in the LGBTQ+ community, transgender women, mothers, daughters, sisters and women in the workplace.  

Women's History Month recognizes the work done by the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 — which allowed white women the right to vote. Black women were granted the same right in 1965 with the Voting Rights Act. Women's History Month recognizes women's right to birth control in 1960, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, not to mention all the “firsts” we’ve seen — the first woman in space, the first woman in Congress, the first woman to fly an airplane, the first female CEO and the first female vice president of the United States.  

“This year's theme, Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future, honors the women who have and are reimagining and rebuilding systems to ensure long-term sustainability – environmental, economic, educational and societal.” (National Women's History Alliance) From science to politics to entertainment, it provides an opportunity to reflect on the trailblazing women who paved the way for change. 

Women's History Month raises awareness for all the progress that has been made and is a call to action for the work that remains. Women have a right to have a seat at the table. We deserve to take up space.  

It is imperative that we take note of the diversity in our community and country, and recognize the fact that that diversity is not reflected in most of our history books or narratives. Until that day, it is essential that we continue to designate months to raise awareness about women, LGBTQIA people, and people of non-European descent and tell the rest of the story.