The History of Women’s History Month

Women's history month started as a conference between socialists and suffragists set on February 28th, 1909. It wasn't until March of 1910, during an International Conference of Working Women when German activist Clara Zetkin suggested that International Women’s Day be deemed a holiday. To show support, multiple countries attended a conference that claimed March 18th as National Women's Day; Americans continued rallying until the late 70s to get the holiday adopted into their country. When America finally adopted the holiday it was then established as a month-long celebration. When the Title IX laws were passed, a Californian task force created Women's History Week in 1980, where shortly after President Carter declared March 8th a national holiday marking the start of National Women’s History Week. In 1987 Congress announced that the holiday would be celebrated all month long.