International Women’s Day is celebrated every March 8th. It became annually observed in 1910 and from then on has acted as a day to celebrate the countless women, their contributions to society, as well as bring light to gender equality and pay, reproductive rights, and domestic abuse against women. Due to women marching endlessly, for years, about unfair working conditions, unequal rights for women, women’s suffrage, child labor, and other protests, it became clear that their unwavering sense of right and wrong and equality was not going anywhere so in support, the 8th was named a day of recognition.
However, it did not just stay to one day, in the 70s, Women’s History Week was instituted and almost 10 years later in 1987 it was declared that March would be Women’s History Month. A time when the economic, political, and social contributions of women could be celebrated. International Women’s Day has improved how women are viewed in history, and it promotes their work right alongside men’s.
The road to equality for women has been a long and rough path. There has been difficulties, gains, and setbacks, throughout the fight for women’s suffrage and rights. In 1847, the first women’s rights convention was held and 2 years later the first national convention of this sort was held. It was not much by any means, but it was a steppingstone for many amazing activists to come. 1850 rolled around, and the notorious “Ain’t I a Women” speech was spoken by Sojourner Truth, a former slave. Truth told the crowd, “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again!” An inspirational to all, Sojourner has gone down in US history and is one of the amazing women celebrated on March 8th. Countless dates that have become statements for equality include the first women’s right convention (1847), Victoria Woodhull becoming the first woman to run for president (1870), Susan B. Anthony registered and voted for Ulysses S. Grant (1871), and formation of the Congressional Union for Women’s Suffrage (1913). Plenty of other meaningful building blocks of the fight for women’s rights will go down in history, however, there have been plenty of difficulties as well. When the 14th and 15th amendments were ratified, women were not included in them resulting in more protests and fighting.
A more notable set back in 2022, is the overturning of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, meaning that the US does not allow the right to abortion in any case, and since the overturning the power has gone back to the states to decide what their law will be. The protection of Roe v. Wade was only secure for 59 years before the right was taken away. Sadly, the end of having to fight for basic human rights and equality is not finished, not just for women, but for the world. Undoubtedly, however, there will be numerous more amazing activists willing to express their beliefs.
Every single person plays a role in the development and improvement of the world. For too long the accomplishments of women were overlooked or not recognized because a man’s gains overshadowed them. Luckily, history has preserved at least some of the astonishing women who were not recognized for a long time. From Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean alone, to Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the second female supreme court justice who fought for gender equality and women’s rights. Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Sojourner were three brave individuals who fought for racial equality their entire lives, making crucial steps in civil rights. An endless number of other women played their parts in the shaping of not just the United States, but every other country.
Inspirational and hardworking women are not just the ones that are seen in movies, articles, in political positions, or making new discoveries, they are also the quiet, timid females working their 9 to 5 job or raising a house of children. These types of people can be found in every community, including Hingham. Schools are filled with staff and teachers who work tirelessly to make every student’s life easier, homes are filled with caretakers and mothers, other jobs are filled with women working to make everyone’s lives more fulfilled without getting their due credit.
Anna Galvin, a student at HHS, said, “A courageous woman in my life is my mom. She is a hardworking and caring person who balances her work and home life, while always creating fun memories for me and my siblings.” Mothers are the basis of society. They nurture new generations of individuals so they can grow up to be the next group of world changers. Another student, Charlotte Gregory, described, “Kamala Harris is an inspirational woman in my life. She is kind, accepting, immensely intelligent, and she gives everyone hope. She is an inspiration to girls and women everywhere and her fight for everyone to live in a better and more equal world is beautiful.” Political figures, athletes, scientists, actors, and singers are frequently mentioned when the question of role models is posed. It varies from person to person, however in this day of age, it is always lovely to see young girls be able to look up to a person like them in a position that for too long was told to be impossible for women.
