Sabrina Beaver
In 1978, a public celebration was started in Sonoma County, Calif. by the Education Task Force, which would be called “Women’s History Week.” The week coincided with March 8, International Women’s Day.
Three years later, in 1981, Congress ruled to officially make the week known as a national Women’s History Week.
It wasn’t until 1987 that Congress made the decision, upon the request from the National Women’s History Project – an organization that recognizes and provides information on the accomplishments of women – to expand this celebration and declare March as Women’s History Month.
“The role of women and their events need to be told and remembered,” said Professor Kathy Holland, who teaches Pierce’s women in politics class.
“In fact, it’s still evolving. We, as a society, also need to be reminded that although women have accomplished much in the last 200 years, there is still much to be accomplished.”
It is hard to believe that less than 40 years ago the subject of women’s history was rarely taught in colleges. Now, the field has increased to be offered in nearly every college, including this campus.
On top of the subject of women history itself being taught, now women are also allowed to teach it – along with many other courses.
“Fifty years ago women who wanted to teach would only teach in the K-12 sector. If they were lucky enough to teach at a college, the only openings were in humanities, nursing and secretarial services,” Holland said.
Holland finds it a comfort to know that the hunger to study courses such as her own women in politics course and Sheila Williams’ history of women course exists, as demonstrated by the enrollment figures.
“Our classes prove that history is much more than wars, conquests and dates to be memorized,” she said. “History comes alive when the personal stories and personal events are told.”