The first National Women’s History Month was established in 1987 to celebrate women’s achievements and has been held annually every March since. National Women’s History Month exhibits women’s strength and impact throughout American history. The fight for women’s equality has come a long way from gaining the right to vote, and it’s important to remember the women who broke the barriers for our generation.
Celebrating women's achievements
In 1840, Catherine Brewer became the first American woman to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Twenty-two years later, Mary Jane Patterson became the first African American woman to graduate with a bachelor’s. In 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell graduated at the top of her class at Geneva Medical School, becoming the first woman to graduate with a medical degree. In the 1970s, women’s enrollment in higher education surpassed men’s, and women continue to enroll at a higher rate. According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, women earn 58% of undergraduate degrees in all fields as well as 50% of all bachelor’s degrees in science and engineering–related fields.
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Colleges with Women's History Month events
This forever-growing list of achievements is something to be proud of. Women throughout history have defied all odds and broken through every glass ceiling placed above them. Here are some colleges that are celebrating women’s history this month.
Sarah Lawrence College
Once an all-women’s college, Sarah Lawrence College helped launch the movement for the popularization for Women’s History Month, so it’s no surprise that they have historically begun every March with a two-day Women’s History Conference, and in more recent years, this conference has evolved to a series of interrelated events. Past years have included themes such as “The Struggle Continues: Intersectional Activism in the Age of Gender Based Violence and Authoritarian Oppression,” in 2019, and "Gender and the Covid Crisis!" in 2022.
Virginia Tech
The Women’s Center at Virginia Tech honors women and the involvement of the community by calling for theme and event ideas from eveyone on campus each year. Students and faculty are given the opportunity to create programs that encourage inclusivity and honor the women who have carved a path for future generations to follow. A calendar of all the programs and the call for ideas can be found on the school's website.
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St. Catherine University
St. Catherine University is a private Catholic women’s college in Minneapolis. They celebrate Women’s History Month throughout the month of March, but on International Women’s Day, the College holds several events across campus. St. Kate’s has also hosted conferences in the past on women’s and gender studies, for which students who’ve done work related to the topic are encouraged to submit their projects. The conference is typically also open to the community and alumni as well as current students. You can find out more information on what St. Catherine University does for Women’s History Month each year and how you can participate on their website.
Wellesley College
As one of the original Seven Sisters colleges, Wellesley College holds a high reputation when it comes to women’s history, so of course they hold exciting events in celebration for the women who came before them. In the past, the college has hosted a Women’s History Month tour at the on-campus art museum, The Davis Museum. The event was student led, free, and open to the public. Keep up with Women's History Month and other events at Wellesley with their events calendar.
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Women’s impact on history has given today’s generation of women the rights to vote, work, and receive an education. While the women’s movement is still active, today’s women are fortunate to enjoy privelages that the sacrifices and accomplishments of our ancestors have granted them. Happy Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day!
