March is the month of St. Patrick's Day and midterms. School begins wrapping up, and green is the most visible color. However, March is also Women’s History Month and has been since 1987. It is a time to celebrate women’s contributions to society, a celebration that it is well deserved. Celebrate women’s history this month and every month because women have come so far and are still working toward equality.
Women have gained independence, greater work experience, voting rights and deeper respect throughout the years. This deserves acknowledgement because women did not gain this randomly. It’s because of the women who worked their hardest to get us here. Women such as Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks and Elizabeth Cady Stanton brought women forward. These women took a stand for what they believed was right. They and so many others demonstrated that women have powerful voices that need to be heard.
Betty Friedan is another woman who moved women forward with her book “The Feminine Mystique,” which opened the eyes of women to how unfairly they were being treated and how they could be more than wives and mothers if they chose to be. This book kicked the second wave of feminism into high gear. It's women with the talent of words who deserve to be celebrated.
In the previous presidency, we had the first female vice president, Kamala Harris. She was also the first Black American and Asian American to hold this position. This accomplishment was a huge demonstration of the developments women of color have made. Harris demonstrated that a woman could be at the center of our government, and she deserved to be.
Another reason why women need to be celebrated is that there is still so far to go. The U.S. has yet to have a female president, DEI programs are shutting down across the country and women are still consistently shamed for the same acts as men. Women are told to be mothers, but it’s not seen as enough if that's all they are. If they are mothers who also work, then they aren’t seen as good enough mothers. People expect so much from women, and they deserve the respect they have earned. Feminism means equality, and equality has yet to be reached on many levels.
There are so many ways to celebrate Women’s Month. This could be through learning about women and educating oneself through deep research. Maybe you could even pick up “The Feminine Mystique.” Another way to celebrate is by doing something special for the women in one’s life. Be there more for the mothers, daughters, aunts and best friends in everyone’s lives. Women could even have a special girls' night to celebrate with each other.
This month while buying shamrock decorations and cramming for exams, reflect on March’s other importance. Women do so much and are the strongest people. They deserve to not only be celebrated but also respected at the highest level this month and every other month.
Kyra Dapore is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Kyra know by emailing her at kd364521@ohio.edu.
