What Is Women's History Month?
Women's History Month is a critical time when we celebrate women, their achievements, and how far they have come in the fight for equality and justice. It's a time to acknowledge the wondrous achievements of women throughout the ages while recommitting to the ongoing challenge of securing equal rights and opportunities for all with courage and dedication.
There are numerous famous women throughout history whose stories raise awareness of this vital topic and inspire others to participate in the cause. These women balked at the idea that certain opportunities were off-limits to them because of their gender and worked tirelessly to advance the rights of girls and women, both here in the United States and around the globe. Today, Women's History Month is celebrated with television specials, speeches and ceremonies, and classroom instruction targeted at highlighting women's contributions to the world.
When Is Women's History Month?
The month of March is designated as Women's History Month. March 8 was first put forward as the date for International Women's Day, which originated during the Second International Socialist Women's Conference in 1910 as a day of observance for women. German conference leader Clara Zetkin chose the date to honor a worker's strike that took place on that day in 1917 in Petrograd and was also the start of the Russian Revolution.
Over time, International Women's Day morphed into Women's History Week, until President Jimmy Carter had it nationally recognized in 1980. Participation continued to spread until Women's History Month was established as a federally recognized observance by the U.S. Congress in 1987.
Fun Facts About Women's History Month: Notable Women
The accomplishments of these famous women are worthy social studies topics to teach children about the many contributions women have made to the world. Their achievements span across centuries and many disciplines, from science to politics to art, and serve as a reminder for children of all ages to pursue their talents and make their skills known to the world.
A - Amelia Earhart: A pioneer of American aviation as well as the first female aviator to make a solo fight across the Atlantic Ocean.
B - Benazir Bhutto: The first woman to lead a Muslim-majority country as Prime Minister of Pakistan.
C - Cleopatra: The last pharaoh of ancient Egypt, known for her intelligence, political acumen, and romantic liaisons with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.
D - Dorothy Vaughan: An African American mathematician and NASA's first African American manager, who played a crucial role in early space missions.
E - Eleanor Roosevelt: The First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, who championed civil rights, women's rights, and social issues.
F - Frida Kahlo: A Mexican painter known for her vivid self-portraits and contributions to the feminist art movement.
G - Grace Hopper: A pioneering computer scientist and United States Navy rear admiral, who played a significant role in the development of early programming languages.
H - Harriet Tubman: The famous African American abolitionist, humanitarian, and Union spy who risked her own life during the American Civil War during her efforts to lead hundreds of slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad.
I - Indira Gandhi: The first and only female Prime Minister of India, who served from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.
J - Jane Austen: An English novelist known for her social commentary and classic novels, such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.
K - Katherine Johnson: An African American mathematician who calculated crucial trajectory data for NASA's first manned space missions.
L - Louisa May Alcott: An American author best known for her novel Little Women, which depicted the lives and struggles of four sisters.
M - Marie Curie: A physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win a Nobel in two different scientific fields.
N - Nellie Bly: An American journalist, inventor, and industrialist, known for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days and her undercover work exposing abuses in a mental institution.
O - Oprah Winfrey: An American media mogul, talk show host, actress, and philanthropist, who is one of the most influential women in the world.
P - Pocahontas: A Native American woman known for her role in the early colonial history of the United States, including her interactions with English settlers at Jamestown.
Q - Queen Elizabeth I: The Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603, who ushered in the Elizabethan era and successfully navigated a male-dominated political landscape.
R - Rosa Parks: An African American civil rights activist whose refusal to give up her bus seat sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped ignite the Civil Rights Movement.
S - Susan B. Anthony: A prominent American suffragist and social reformer who played a crucial role in the United States' women's suffrage movement.
T - Toni Morrison: An American novelist, essayist, and editor who became the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
U - Ursula K. Le Guin: An American author known for her groundbreaking science fiction and fantasy novels, including The Left Hand of Darkness and the Earthsea series.
V - Virginia Woolf: An English writer and a central figure in the Bloomsbury Group, who is considered one of the foremost modernist authors of the 20th century.
W - Wangari Maathai: A Kenyan environmental and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement and became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
X - Xiang Jingyu: A pioneer of the women's movement of China.
Y- Yoko Ono: Japanese artist, musician, and peace activist.
Z- Zora Neale Hurston: American writer, anthropologist, and folklorist.
How to Celebrate Women's History Month Using Alphapals
As a woman-founded company, Alphapals is a big supporter of uplifting and empowering women. Alphapals grew from a mother's desire to help her son, who faced learning difficulties. She crafted plush alphabet letters to give her child the opportunity of hands-on learning of the alphabet to develop a better understanding of how to pair letters and words for effective communication. Alphapals are highly adaptable for use with many learning styles. The versatile letters provide the foundation for games and all types of creative play.
Do your part to celebrate Women's History Month with the help of Alphapals ABC's collection of alphabet letters. These alphabet plushies are the perfect educational tool to promote better language and communication development at home and in the classroom. Use our list of remarkable women as a starting point to discover the many outstanding creations and deeds women have many through the centuries. Using our colorful, multi-sensory letters makes learning a fun and interactive experience that helps children learn the foundations of language while gaining knowledge of the significant contributions women have made in the world.