Before it was a Month, it was a Week
President Jimmy Carter turned 100 last October. He was the longest-lived president in U.S. history. At his funeral in January, his son Chip said, “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.”
I vaguely remember cutting and pasting photos of the incumbent president alongside then California Gov. Ronald Reagan for an elementary class assignment. I was too young to grasp the complexities of a presidential campaign, but I completed my assignment without fanfare, nonetheless.
What I remember with more clarity, however, was my next project. Just before the presidential transition, President Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 2-8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. It wasn’t until 1987 that Congress declared the entire month of March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity, demonstrating the long overdue recognition and celebration of the achievements of American women.
Unlike my previous poster board, not a spot remained uncovered as I added photos of laudable women.
Over the years, as I explored historical texts, novels, poems, songs, and movies, I broadened and homed in on my list of women I admired. My mother and grandmothers remained at the top of the list, and my mother-in-law was soon added to the top tier.
Constantin Heger’s remark that my favorite novelist, Emily Bronte, “should have been a man,” left me fittingly bewildered for a time, until Anne Frank, Mary Oliver, and Toni Morrison emanated from my further exploration into the essence of remarkable women.
Katharine Hepburn and Chaka Khan expanded my list of admired female figures. During the raising of my children, Maria Montessori, Lori Cousino, Jennifer McMillin, and Sue Herring were added as esteemed role models.
The list continues to expand and evolve with Malala Yousafzai, Lauryn Hill, and Billie Eilish joining the assemblage.
Recently, the National Women’s History Alliance announced its 2025 theme, “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”
In our March issue, we recognize extraordinary women in our community doing just that. You can find them marked with the Remarkable Women logo.
Before it was a month, it was a week. Here’s to honoring remarkable women throughout the entire year.
There was a time when women envied men and had to live and work through them. As writers many used pseudonyms, such as George Eliot whose name was Mary Anne Evans. Women had a myriad of talents but no rights and had to disguise themselves under male mantles. Not until 1920 did women gain the right to vote in the U.S. There are still societies where women lack equality and respect. Praise to us women and our long struggle. Celebrate Women’s History Month, our past and our present. And let’s march forward together as a force for good.