Submitted by Linda Wilson, BPW/California

In 1911 the first International Women’s Day was designated as March 8th, but it was not until 1978 that the California Sonoma School District participated in a Women’s History Week, which included March 8th.

In 1979 there was a three-day conference at Sarah Lawrence College on women’s history. The attendees learned about the success of the Women’s History Week from the Sonoma School District. That conference provided the seed to start Women’s History Weeks around the country.

Excerpt from the BPW/Hollywood Susan B. Anthony award ceremony: Recipient Molly Murphy MacGregor, founder of the National Women’s History Alliance.

Five women, most of them teachers, campaigned for a Women's History Month to "write women back into history.” The leader of the five women, Molly Murphy MacGregor, was a 24-year-old high school history teacher in Santa Rosa, California, in 1972 when she couldn't find an answer in textbooks to answer a student's question about the women's movement. 

In February 1980 President Jimmy Carter designated the first National Women’s History Week to include March 8th.

In 1987 the National Women’s History Project (now called the National Women’s History Alliance) petitioned Congress to designate March as Women’s History Month.

Since 1995 U.S. Presidents have issued annual proclamations designating the month of March as Women’s History Month.

President Biden’s proclamation for March 2022 reads in part –

“Every March, Women’s History Month provides an opportunity to honor the generations of trailblazing women and girls who have built our Nation, shaped our progress, and strengthened our character as a people. 

Throughout our history, despite hardship, exclusion, and discrimination, women have strived and sacrificed for equity and equality in communities across the country.

Generations of Native American women were stewards of the land and continue to lead the fight for climate justice.

Black women fought to end slavery, advocate for civil rights, and pass the Voting Rights Act.  Suffragists helped pass the 19th Amendment to the Constitution so that no American could be denied a vote on the basis of sex.

Standing on the shoulders of the heroines who came before them, today’s women and girls continue to carry forward the mission of ensuring our daughters have the same opportunities as our sons.

Women of the labor movement are achieving monumental reforms to help all workers secure the better pay, benefits, and safety they deserve.  LGBTQI+ women and girls are leading the fight for justice, opportunity, and equality — especially for the transgender community.

Women and girls continue to lead groundbreaking civil rights movements for social justice and freedom, so that everyone can realize the full promise of America.

But despite the progress being made, women and girls — especially women and girls of color — still face systemic barriers to full participation and wider gaps in opportunity and equality.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated those disparities which have disproportionately impacted women’s labor force participation, multiplied the burden on paid and unpaid caregivers, and increased rates of gender-based violence.

The constitutional right to abortion established in Roe v. Wade is facing an unprecedented assault as States pass increasingly onerous restrictions to critical reproductive health care and bodily autonomy.  

Workers contend with gender and racial wage gaps that can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars denied over the course of their lifetimes.  

The Congress sent the Equal Rights Amendment to the States for ratification 50 years ago and it is long past time that the principle of women’s equality should be enshrined in our Constitution.

This Women’s History Month, as we reflect on the achievements of women and girls across the centuries and pay tribute to the pioneers who paved the way, let us recommit to the fight and help realize the deeply American vision of a more equal society where every person has a shot at pursuing the American dream.  

In doing so, we will advance economic growth, our health and safety, and the security of our Nation and the world.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2022 as Women’s History Month.  

I call upon all Americans to observe this month and to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2022, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. 

I also invite all Americans to visit www.WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn more about the vital contribution of women to our Nation’s history. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.” 

by Emily VanVleck – NFBPWC Member | Afghan Women Project Committee Member

This past weekend was the most rewarding since becoming a part of the NFBPWC. Our club, as a part of the National-level Special Project for Afghan Women, has worked tirelessly for the last month and a half to conceptualize and implement a plan to help the displaced women from Afghanistan arriving in the US. This weekend I witnessed firsthand the fruits of our labor. Our chapter collected a donation of over 14,000 head coverings and sewing materials that we delivered to a military base where the newly arrived families are being processed. We were met by an escort who graciously answered questions and referred to the Afghans as “their guests.” 

I was able to see Afghans sitting outside chatting and playing pickup soccer games across the yard. Our escort told us the soldiers on base love to come and play with the guests and that a soccer tournament had even been established. However, the most special part of this experience was the kids, which there were a lot of! One particular group was very excited to say hello and to give us fist bumps. After the exchanged fist bumps, one of the kids walked up and gave me a hug that absolutely melted my heart. Little did I know that was only the beginning of my blessings. After the first hug, another kid came forward to hug me, then another. Before I knew it, I was getting hugs from the whole group of kids. When it was time to say goodbye I had tears in my eyes and the biggest smile on my face.

I have never felt so grateful and proud to be a part of an organization. When returning to college, my goal was to help people - this weekend I truly felt I was achieving that goal. It has been an exhausting route to take our project from an idea to what it is today in just over a month. Seeing the families and children waiting to begin their lives in the US made every bit of effort worthwhile. 

I am inspired by the courage it took our Afghan allies to leave everything they knew behind to start life anew in a strange place. I am inspired by the work our military and various government agencies continue to do to support our Afghan allies. I am inspired by the numerous organizations and individuals who have come together to welcome these newest Americans to our home.

Above all, I remain inspired by all the women I am privileged to work with at BPW. Meeting that group of kids is something I will never forget, I still cannot believe I experienced such a special moment. What started as a strenuous day of work delivering a donation turned into my biggest source of motivation and inspiration to work even harder.

A Message From The President

Dear NFBPWC Members and Fellow Advocates,

NFBPWC is in direct contact with U.S. top military personnel about the first wave of displaced Afghan people. They are safe and well cared for; receiving housing, food, medical care, and other services. 

As their visas are being processed and others wait to be resettled, we are hearing first-hand of what we can do to help. Most of the displaced Afghan's left wearing only the clothing on their backs.  And, although women are given access to clothing and supplies at the base retail centers, the clothing designed for female military personnel is inappropriate for those who practice hijab (modest clothing).

We've been informed that many of the Afghan women are refusing to come out of the barracks because they are embarrassed by what they have to wear and/or can access on the bases.

NFBPWC is stepping forward to launch the Afghan Women Project -- a mission to provide new, modest undergarments (panties, bras, socks) to displaced Afghan women in the United States.

Our first step: raise financial donations by October 31, 2021 to pay for the purchase (and shipment) of undergarments.

Our minimum fundraising goal: $5000 USD

CLICK TO DONATE TODAY

I ask that you please consider donating as we work to provide this life-changing need. When donating online, please notate your intention by selecting "Afghan Women Project" in the final donation field.

Thank you for your contribution and your support during this first phase of this project. Stay tuned for details on our progress and the next steps in our plan!

Megan Shellman-Rickard
2020-2022 NFBPWC President

Special Session on Afghanistan (August 24)

Read the Call for Immediate Action Written Statement to protect human rights and dignity in Afghanistan with special focus on women and girls. 

> Read Written Statement as PDF

This a joint written statement submitted by Women's Federation for World Peace International, Biovision Stiftung für ökologische Entwicklung, International Alliance of Women, International Federation of Business and Professional Women, Soroptimist International, Universal Peace Federation, Zonta International, non-governmental organizations in general consultative status, Graduate Women International (GWI), Mothers Legacy Project, National Alliance of Women's Organizations, UFER- Unis pour l'Equité et la Fin du Racisme/ UFER - United for Equity and Ending Racism, Widows Rights International, non-governmental organizations in special consultative status.