Women's History Month

The official observation of Women's History started in March 1987. The purpose of the celebration is to honor the various contributions to society and culture that women have made throughout history; it is a time to contemplate past women's accomplishments while promoting equity and empowerment in future generations. As we continue to celebrate women's triumphs throughout the month, it's important to acknowledge these significant dates in history and consider how women have changed the narrative globally:

• March 8, 1911: International Women's Day
• March 3, 1913: First major March on Washington by suffragists
• March 1, 1972: Congress passed Title IX, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded education program
• March 22, 1972: Senate passed the Equal Rights Amendment

We had the opportunity to hear from AACRAO Women's Caucus Chair Laura Remillard, who emphasized the value of recognizing Women's History Month as it serves as a reminder "that we've come a long way and still have work to do." She explained how she became involved with the AACRAO Women's Caucus and its impact on her career and professional development:

I wanted to be more involved in AACRAO. The original Chair and I were friends—we met at an AACRAO Conference, and we talked about the need for a Women's Caucus.  I felt that women needed to have a place to network, build each other up, and connect.

She discussed her experience with the #IamRemarkable Google Initiative that "empowers women and underrepresented groups to speak openly about their accomplishments in the workplace and beyond" and encourages others to explore the opportunity.

Laura also delved into the challenges of Imposter Syndrome in the workplace and how to overcome the associated obstacles:

It is normal, in some cases, to feel those feelings of imposter syndrome in the beginning. The more you learn and educate yourself, the more you become more confident to stand on your own two feet and recognize that it's not impossible and that you do have a right to be in [your] position.

Looking for ways to get involved? Reach out to the Women's Caucus to hear more from their perspective.

Attending the 107th AACRAO Annual Meeting? Join the roundtable session on "Reflecting on Advanced Education, Work, and Gender Pay Inequality for Women."

View the assortment of PBS films related to celebrating Women's History Month.

Interested in partaking in an educational journey from the comfort of your home? Tour the American Women in Education Story Map to learn more about historically significant locations.

Looking for an informative weekend activity? The National Park Service compiled a list of parks and places across the United States, detailing the various impacts that American women have made.