March designated to celebrate Women's History Month

March is designated as Women’s History Month in the United States and March 8 is specifically celebrated as International Women’s Day around the world.

By 1978, women historians had begun to take on the task of integrating the accomplishments of women into the study of history by promoting the celebration of a “Women’s History Week.” That week was chosen to coincide with the already established International Women’s Day on March 8.

By 1981 Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Barbara Milulski co-sponsored a joint Congressional resolution proclaiming a national “Women’s History Week” that included the International Women’s Day.

In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month and March was declared Women’s History Month. The study of women’s history has changed significantly since the 1960s when there was little or no attention on women in history. Now, almost every college offers women’s history courses and most major graduate programs offer doctoral degrees in the field of women’s studies.