History months in the United States are usually reserved for communities that have a history of disenfranchisement and marginalization. One of the goals of these months is to help bring awareness to the historical context of that marginalization. But that isn’t all history months are for.
For one thing, many people in the United States don’t know that much about the true nature of the fights in our history. Women’s suffrage was not something won by quiet women pleasantly asking their husbands for the right to vote.
None of the many fights that got women to where we are today were fought or won easily.
You would think that after suffrage was won, and women had a say in the politics of the day, equality would have been easier to achieve.
The truth is that we are still working toward equality for women.
From the pay gap, disparities in how women are treated professionally, the uneven distribution of household domestic labor, and more, women still have a long way to go.
The good news is that we have already come a long way.
In fact, there wouldn’t be a women’s history month at all if we hadn’t. Even changes like no-fault divorce, encouraging women to pursue STEM and other collegiate career paths, and yes, accepting women wearing pants, have helped shape the history of this country.
The United States would not be the country it is without the generations of strong women helping to build and shape its trajectory.
Of course, no movement is without controversies and missteps.
One part of the history of women in the United States is the reality that women have often replicated the biases of society directed at other marginalized communities. In fact, the suffrage movement publicly and intentionally separated itself from the movement for Black Civil Rights early in the history of the United States.
Yet, despite the missteps, biases, and problems within the feminist movements of the United States, where we are now is still nothing short of miraculous.
After all, women today are more equal and empowered than at almost any other time in Western History.
As with many groups that have been historically marginalized, there is a long way to go. There are still plenty of people who would prefer to revert to the way things used to be.
Fortunately, a lot of things have moved in a good direction, and women’s equality is more of a reality today than at almost any point in our history. Not to mention that there are a lot more people, and a lot more cultures, fighting for women’s equality than there used to be.
How To Show Support For Women’s Equality
There are a lot of different ways you can show support for women’s equality this Women’s History Month.
One option is buying from woman-owned and operated businesses like Earth Song Jewelry.
But, often the most impactful option when it comes to showing support for women’s equality, and understanding the importance of having a month like Women’s History Month, is showing up in your personal life.
In your personal interactions, at home, at school, or at work, are there things you could be doing to help support the women around you? It could be as simple as asking a coworker to stop interrupting the women in your office, or showing support for their proposals in your next meeting.
It can also mean things like trying to take some of the mental and emotional labor from the women in your life. Things like making the grocery list and getting what you need for the week, or helping clean up in the kitchen.
Of course, those options aren’t perfect. Neither is electing female representatives in local and federal government, voting to protect women, or fighting for title 9 protections in colleges.
No one action does everything, and a lot of well-intentioned actions can be harmful if you don’t read the situation well.
The good news is that no one wants or needs you to be perfect. Making the attempt already says a lot about you, and can make a big difference in our society.
