Women's History Month is an important time to reflect on the contributions and achievements of women throughout history. Despite facing discrimination and marginalization, women have played a significant role in shaping our society and deserve to be recognized and celebrated.

Teaching women's history is essential to providing a more accurate and complete understanding of our past, and it can also have a positive impact on students by promoting gender equality, improving critical thinking skills, and inspiring students to pursue their goals and aspirations.

In this article, we will explore the importance of teaching women's history and highlight how educators can incorporate it into their curriculums.

An Overview of Women’s History Month

Women's History Month is celebrated every March in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, and it is a time to recognize and honor the contributions and accomplishments of women throughout history.

Women's History Month originated from International Women's Day, which was first celebrated in 1911 in several European countries to recognize women's achievements and promote gender equality. In 1975, the United Nations designated March 8th as International Women's Day, and many countries began celebrating it annually.

In the United States, Women's History Week was first proposed in 1978 by a group of educators in California led by Molly Murphy MacGregor. They chose the week of March 8th to coincide with International Women's Day. President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first History Week the following year.

The idea gained momentum, and in 1987, the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to expand National Women's History Week to the entire month of March. In 1988, Congress passed a resolution designating March as Women's History Month, and it has been celebrated annually ever since.

Why Focus on Women’s History Month in Your Classroom?

For many years, women's contributions were ignored or downplayed in history books and educational curriculums. This is partly because history has traditionally been written by men, who often focused on the accomplishments of other men. Women's history was often dismissed as being unimportant or insignificant.

However, the truth is that women have played a significant role in shaping history, and their contributions should not be ignored. Women have been leaders, activists, inventors, scientists, artists, writers, and more. They have fought for their rights, broken down barriers, and made significant contributions to society despite facing discrimination and opposition.

Teaching women's history can provide a more accurate and complete picture of our past. It helps to highlight the achievements of women and the obstacles they overcame, which can inspire and empower future generations. It also helps to break down stereotypes and gender biases that can hold women back.

In addition, teaching women's history can help to promote gender equality and social justice. It can help to raise awareness about the ongoing struggles that women face today, such as the gender wage gap, reproductive rights, and sexual harassment. It can also help to promote the accomplishments of women from diverse backgrounds.

How to Incorporate Women’s History into Your Lesson Plans

There are many ways to incorporate women's history into educational curriculums. Teachers can include lessons on women's suffrage, women's rights movements, notable women in history, and the contributions of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. They can also use primary sources, such as diaries, letters, and speeches, to provide a more personal and nuanced perspective on women's experiences. Let’s look at some examples in major subject areas to consider in your lesson planning:

Ada Lovelace: Lovelace was a mathematician and writer who is often credited with creating the first computer program. She worked closely with Charles Babbage, the inventor of the Analytical Engine, and wrote an algorithm for the machine that could calculate Bernoulli numbers. By studying Lovelace's work, students can learn about the history of computing and the role that women have played in its development.

1) Language Arts

The suffragette movement: The suffragette movement was a women's rights movement that fought for women's right to vote. Students can read primary sources from suffragettes like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton and explore the themes of power, gender, and political activism in their writing.

1. Feminist literature: Students can read works by feminist writers like Gloria Steinem, bell hooks, and Audre Lorde and explore the themes of gender, race, and identity in their writing. They can also analyze how these writers use language and form to convey their messages.

2. Women in literature: Students can study the portrayal of women in literature and explore how women's roles and experiences have changed over time. They can read works by female authors like Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, and Toni Morrison and analyze how these writers represent female characters and their struggles.

3. Women in history: Students can explore the contributions of women in history and how their stories have been told (or not told) over time. They can research figures like Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg and analyze how their stories have been represented in literature and popular culture.

4. Women's rights and activism: Students can read works by contemporary women activists like Malala Yousafzai, Emma Watson, and Greta Thunberg and explore how they use writing and speaking to advocate for change. They can also examine the history of women's rights movements and explore how activists have used writing and speaking to effect social and political change.

2) Mathematics

1. Katherine Johnson: Johnson was a mathematician and NASA employee who calculated trajectories for space flights, including the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Her work was instrumental in the success of the early space program, but she faced discrimination and racism as a black woman in a male-dominated field. By studying Johnson's work, students can learn about the history of space exploration and the challenges women and people of color face in STEM fields.

2. Hypatia of Alexandria: Hypatia was a mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, in the 4th century AD. She was one of the few female scholars of her time and significantly contributed to studying mathematics and astronomy. However, she was ultimately murdered by a mob who opposed her teachings. By studying Hypatia's work, students can learn about the history of mathematics and the challenges women have faced in academic fields throughout history.

3. Emmy Noether: Noether was a mathematician who significantly contributed to abstract algebra and theoretical physics. She developed Noether's theorem, which relates symmetries in physics to conservation laws. Despite facing discrimination as a Jewish woman in Nazi Germany, she continued to work and teach until she died in 1935. By studying Noether's work, students can learn about the history of mathematics and women's role in advancing scientific knowledge.

3) Science

Women in STEM: Students can learn about women who have made significant contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. For example, they can research Marie Curie, who won Nobel Prizes in both physics and chemistry, or Rosalind Franklin, whose work on X-ray crystallography helped uncover the structure of DNA.

1. Women's health: Students can explore the history of women's health through the contributions of female scientists and doctors who have made breakthroughs in fields like obstetrics and gynecology.

2. Environmental activism: Students can learn about women who have been leaders in the environmental movement, such as Rachel Carson, who wrote the influential book "Silent Spring" and helped inspire the modern environmental movement. They can also explore the intersection of environmentalism with issues like feminism and social justice.

3. Women and technology: Students can study the history of women's contributions to technology development, from Ada Lovelace's work on computer programming to Grace Hopper's development of computer languages. They can also explore contemporary issues like the gender gap in tech fields and the importance of diversity and inclusion in technology development.

4) Social Studies

Women's suffrage: Students can learn about the women's suffrage movement and the struggle for women's right to vote. They can study the contributions of suffragettes like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton and analyze the social and political factors that led to the passage of the 19th Amendment.

1. Women in wartime: Students can explore the role of women in different wars throughout history, from the women who served as nurses and doctors during the Civil War to the "Rosie the Riveters" who worked in factories during World War II. They can also examine how wartime experiences have shaped women's social and political roles.

2. Women in politics: Students can study the history of women's political activism and leadership, from early suffragettes to contemporary political figures like Kamala Harris and Angela Merkel. They can also analyze women's challenges and barriers in the political arena.

3. Women's labor history: Students can learn about the history of women in the workforce and the contributions of women to different industries, from textile factories to tech startups. They can also explore issues like equal pay and workplace discrimination.

4. Women and social movements: Students can examine the role of women in different social activities throughout history, such as the civil rights movement and womens voting campaigns.

Help Your Students Discover and Learn Something New This Month

Teaching women's history is essential because it helps to provide a more accurate and complete understanding of our past. It promotes gender equality and social justice and can inspire and empower future generations of women.

By celebrating Women's History Month, we can honor the achievements of women throughout history and recognize the ongoing struggle for gender equality.