Happy Women’s History Month! March kicks off this beautiful tradition that aims to honor the contributions of women all around the world. March is the month to speak about equality of the sexes and the opportunities for women to strive for best and thrive in their communities.
In order to celebrate this occasion, we decided to take a look at how the United States is preparing for it. Learn about various American organizations and companies that chose to honor Women’s History Month this year.
The White House
It’s only natural to start this list with the highest office in the land. President Joe Biden gave a speech in which he celebrated the trailblazing women and girls of the United States who advance the country.
He mentioned how he strives to make his administration diverse and how he nominated the first African American woman for Supreme Court Justice (Judge Ketanji Brown). Biden also said that he’d continue to fight for equal pay, affordable childcare, abortion rights, for the human rights of women.
The White House, under Biden’s name, also published a lengthy proclamation that mirrored the President’s speech, but included further details about his policies to achieve gender equality. Biden rallied Americans to celebrate the month and the International Women’s Day on March 8 with the appropriate ceremonies.
He also put a link to the government site Women’s History Month where people could learn more about the contributions of women in the course of American history.
Michigan
Michigan’s female governor, Gretchen Whitmer, proclaimed March to be Women’s History Month to honor the women who contributed to the history of the state of Michigan. She rallied both Democrats and Republicans to fight for causes important to women, thus ensuring equality not only in Michigan, but the whole country.
Whitmer signed an Executive Directive to make Michigan an equal pay for equal job state. She also repealed the tax of female menstrual products and awarded various grants to organizations that help female workers understand and exercise their rights in the workplace.
The U.S. Army
The U.S. Army also recognized Women’s History Month by talking about the role of women in the military starting all the way back to the Revolutionary War and the Civil War when many women pretended to be men in order to serve their country. Still, women could only formally join the army when U.S. Army Nurses Corps was established in 1901.
The U.S. Army unveiled its plans for a special ceremony honoring the servicewomen in Washington DC on March 4 that is titled “The Path of Success for Women and Leadership Roles” with an exhibition featuring the contributions of women in the army.
There would also be an event for women-owned businesses hosted in the Pentagon on March 18. The U.S. Army thanks the 250,000 active female members for everything they have done for their country.
The Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a nonprofit legal organization promoting civil rights, marked the occasion by sharing the profiles of famous female advocates for civil rights. They thanked women such as Sherrilyn Ifill, the president of the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, who works to advance racial justice.
Along with her was feminist icon Dolores Huerta who’s credited for helping farmworkers unionize in the 1970’s. The SPLC also honored Suzan Shown Harjo who advocates for indigenous rights, as well as Marcia Fudge, the current HUD secretary who works for the creation of affordable housing.
The last three women are Abigail Dillen who fights against the fossil fuel industry and successfully petitioned the EPA. Next is Kizzmekia Corbett who was on the team that created the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. Last, but not least, the SPLC celebrated the legacy of First Lady Rosalynn Carter who advocated for better mental health recourses.
The Southern Poverty Law Center reminds us that we should always celebrate these and other exceptional ladies, not just in March.
Disneyland
Disneyland marked the beginning of Women’s History Month with a very sweet and cute gesture. The magical kingdom debuted a new flower bed in the shape of the beloved Disney character Minnie Mouse. The flower bed is placed in front of Main Street Train Station at Disneyland and serves to tell kids about this special occasion.
Hershey
The American chocolate manufacturer Hershey celebrates Women’s History Month by highlighting “she” on the logo of the Hershey bar. The company hopes that this gesture reminds customers to think and thank the girls and women in their lives for the important role that they serve.
On top of that, Hershey is also partnering with the nonprofit organization Girls on the Run whose mission is to support and empower girls, so they can reach their full potential and break through the glass ceiling. Hershey pledged $150,000 to the organization.
Hershey is among the top performers in the country in terms of treatment of their female workers. In fact, they were named The World’s Most Female-Friendly Company by Forbes in 2021. After all, the company’s president and CEO, Michelle Buck, is a woman, which is a rarity for a company of such size and notoriety.
Buck says that Hershey would continue to inspire and invest in women.
