Women’s History Month has been a national celebration since 1987, as a tribute to the contributions that women have made to culture, history and society.

According to www.history.com, it all started as a small district-wide event, lasting a week, in Sonoma schools 40 years ago. Presentations were given at various schools in the district. But before that happened, there had been an International Women’s Day, starting in March 2011 and declared an International Day by the United Nations in 1975.

After the Sonoma schools’ week-long celebration became traditional, The National Women’s History Project was founded by Molly Murphy MacGregor. In 1980, Jimmy Carter declared that a week in March would be set apart as National Women’s History Week. Only a few years later, Congress expanded it to the entire month of March.

Women that are honored are recognized for a wealth of reasons. The celebrations focus on the growth of Women’s Rights and the historical significance that affects women today. The event honors women from diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds, acknowledging the contributions that they have made to their gender, but also recognizing the contributions made to the world at large.