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Women’s History Month

9 min read

By Namratha Rao, 3/20/15

March is Women's History Month

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress and the President proclaimed the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week." Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as "Women’s History Week." In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month." Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” However, the history of International Women's Day, celebrated globally on March 8, is much longer. (Photo: Women's History Month poster by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.)

Origins of International Women's Day

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, according to internationalwomensday.com. The first National Women's Day was observed across the United States on February 28, 1909. However, the tragic 1911 Triangle Factory Fire in New York City that took the lives of more than 140 working women, became a catalyst for subsequent Women's Days, which was already growing as an internationally celebrated event. Only days before the Triangle Fire, more than one million women and men attended IWD rallies in Europe campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.

Check out the LIbrary of Congress's Pinterest board for Women's History Month and the Women's Bureau's Flickr page. (Photo: Funeral protest after the Triangle fire, Cornell University)

Related Bills

This March, POPVOX is spotlighting a variety of bills related to women, internationally and in the United States. Share your voice on POPVOX and alert your friends and networks.

Women’s History

Women’s Health

  • 21st Century Women's Health Act (S 674)

    “Invests in women's health clinics and the primary care workforce, and promotes critical preventive services like contraception coverage. The bill also works to provide compassionate assistance for survivors of rape by ensuring all hospitals provide emergency contraception, spreading awareness, and working with community-based groups to help prevent sexual violence,” according to the Senate HELP Committee. (Read bill text)

  • Women's Health Protection Act (HR 448 and S 217 in the Senate)

    “Creates federal protections against state restrictions that fail to protect women’s health and intrude upon personal decision-making. It promotes and protects a woman’s individual constitutional rights, no matter where she lives.The Women's Health Protection Act protects a woman’s health, her ability to make her own decisions, and her constitutional rights,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

  • Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Research and Education Act (HR 45)

    To provide for research and education with respect to triple-negative breast cancer, a term used to describe breast cancers whose cells do not have estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors, and do not have an excess of the HER2 protein on their sources.(Read bill text)

  • Supporting women's reproductive health care decisions (HRes 47 and SRes 37 in the Senate)

    A resolution “in support of women’s reproductive health and standing up for a woman’s ability to make health care decisions for herself and her family.A woman’s right to make her own health care decisions is fundamental, yet that right is under constant attack from Republican Congressional leaders and their political allies. We must stand for this fundamental right, stand up to baseless attacks on the right to choose, and stand by America’s women,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

  • Pregnancy Assistance Fund Expansion Act (S 221)

    To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to authorize additional funding for the pregnancy assistance fund. (Read bill text)

  • Mobile Mammography Promotion Act (S 91)

    “Would expand access to mobile mammography services by eliminating the fuel excise tax to help provide on-site mammograms to women in both urban and rural areas that may not currently receive breast cancer screenings and preventive care.” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

  • Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act (S 466)

    —Bipartisan— "We all have a stake in making sure women and children have the health care they need from the very start of a pregnancy. This bill invests in the doctors, nurses, midwives and other maternity care providers who help make sure moms and babies receive quality care from the doctor's office to the delivery room," according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

  • Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act (HR 716)

    —Bipartisan— “Would set a minimum federal standard, as designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), for notification and recommend women discuss with their doctors whether additional screening is necessary. The mammogram report received by doctors and technicians already includes density information. The bill also directs HHS to study improved screening options for women with dense tissue,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

Women Servicemembers and Veterans

  • Access to Contraception for Women Servicemembers and Dependents Act (S 358 and HR 742 in the House)

    —Bipartisan— “Women receiving health care through the United States military will be guaranteed access to all FDA-approved contraception with no health insurance co-pay, regardless of where they receive it. Additionally, the legislation directs the DoD to develop and implement family planning education for all servicemembers at specific points during their service. Finally, the legislation would also ensure access to emergency contraception for servicewomen who are survivors of military sexual assault so that that they receive the critical and time-sensitive medical counseling and care they may need,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

  • Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act (S 469)

    A bill to improve the reproductive assistance provided by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to severely wounded, ill, or injured members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their spouses or partners. (Read bill text)

  • Women Veterans Access to Quality Care Act (S 471 and HR 1356 in the House)

    —Bipartisan— “As more and more women come home from serving our nation, we owe it to them to make sure they can access safe, comfortable, and high-quality care at their local VA clinics. Women veterans have specific health care needs that the VA must be able to meet, and this bill provides the Department with the tools and resources they need to continue making progress and providing our women veterans with the care and support they deserve,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

Women in the Workplace

  • Healthy Families Act (HR 932 and S 497 in the Senate)

    "Would allow workers to earn paid sick leave to use when they are sick, to care for a sick family member, to obtain preventive care, or to address the impacts of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault," according to the Senate HELP Committee.

  • Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act (HR 1439 and S 786 in the Senate)

    "Would establish a national, gender-neutral paid family and medical leave insurance program, ensuring that American workers would no longer have to choose between a paycheck and caring for themselves or a family member," according to the bill sponsors. "Would create an independent trust fund within the Social Security Administration to collect contributions and provide benefits. This trust would be funded by employee and employer contributions of two-tenths of one percent of wages each, creating a self-sufficient program that would not add to the federal budget. The expected cost to the average worker would be similar to the expense of a cup of coffee a week."

  • End Pay Discrimination Through Information Act (S 83)

    Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to revise the prohibition against employer retaliation for employee complaints. Prohibits retaliation for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing the wages of the employee or another employee in response to a sex discrimination complaint or charge, or in furtherance of a sex discrimination investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer.(Read bill text)

  • Family Friendly and Workplace Flexibility Act (S 803)

    Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to revise the prohibition against employer retaliation for employee complaints. Prohibits retaliation for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing the wages of the employee or another employee in response to a sex discrimination complaint or charge, or in furtherance of a sex discrimination investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer.

  • Working Families Flexibility Act (HR 465 and S 233 in the Senate)

    "Gives employers the ability to offer their employees the option of comp time or overtime pay, both accrued at 1½ times the overtime hours worked. Requires employers who decide to offer this option to their employees to establish a written agreement with the employee outlining the options and to allow each employee to voluntarily choose the option that best fits his needs," according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

Women and International Affairs

  • Ratify the CEDAW (HRes145)

    “A resolution calling for the Senate to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This landmark international agreement, adopted by the United Nations in 1979, mandates that governments take positive steps toward the advancement of women and eradicate laws, customs, and practices that discriminate against women,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

  • Equal Rights and Access for the Women of South Sudan Act (HR 57)

    Requires that activities carried out by the United States in South Sudan relating to governance, post-conflict reconstruction and development, police and military training, and refugee relief and assistance support the human rights of women and their full political, social, and economic participation. (Read bill text)

  • Congressional Gold Medal to Malala Yousafzai (HR 69)

    —Bipartisan— To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Malala Yousafzai, a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace, in recognition of her devoted service to education, justice, and equality in Pakistan. (Read bill text)

  • Women, Peace, and Security Act (S 224)

    —Bipartisan— “Would codify in law the commitments contained in the United States National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security and ensure the United States promotes women’s meaningful inclusion and participation in mediation and negotiation processes undertaken in order to prevent, mitigate, or resolve violent conflict,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

Violence Against Women

  • Zero Tolerance for FGM Act (HR 783)

    “The Crowley-Jackson Lee legislation requires the federal government to undertake a national study to provide data on and insight into the prevalence of FGM in the U.S. and establish a multi-agency strategy to bring the practice to an end. Such a strategy could include the establishment of an emergency hotline for girls seeking assistance; the provision of resources to help those on the frontlines, such as educators, healthcare workers, and law enforcement; implementation of a public awareness campaign; and appropriate funding to support these efforts.” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

  • International Violence Against Women Act (S 713 and HR 1340 in the House)

    —Bipartisan— “Would make reducing the levels of violence against women and girls worldwide a top diplomatic priority for the United States.” According to bill sponsor, “The International Violence Against Women Act will make clear that ending gender-based violence and discrimination is a top priority for the United States, and will ensure that our government has a comprehensive strategy to promote the rights and safety of women and girls around the world.” (Read bill text)

  • Candace’s Law (HR 64)

    Directs a state to provide by law enhanced sentencing requirements for persons convicted of committing, or attempting to commit, an act of domestic violence in the presence of minor children.(Read bill text)

  • Rape Survivor Child Custody Act (HR 1257)

    —Bipartisan— To provide rape survivors with emergency contraception, easier access to abortion, or quick termination of parental rights of the father when the child is being given up for adoption.(Read bill text)

  • Pet and Women Safety Act (HR 1258)

    —Bipartisan— “To help the estimated one-third of domestic violence victims who delayed leaving their abusive relationships out of concern for the wellbeing of their pets.” This legislation “expands federal law to include protections for pets of domestic violence victims and establishes a federal grant program to assist in acquiring a safe shelter for pets. The PAWS Act strongly asserts the need for states to expand their legal protections for the pets of domestic violence victims,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

  • Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (S 48)

    “Would authorize civil actions by fathers and maternal grandparents (if the mother is a minor) whose unborn children and grandchildren are victims of gender discrimination abortions. The bill would also provide civil remedies to women who are intimidated, manipulated, or forced into receiving such an abortion, and it would require medical and mental health professionals to report suspicion or knowledge of such an abortion.” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

Women in STEM

  • STEM Opportunities Act (HR 467)

    Would require federal agencies that fund scientific research to collect more comprehensive demographic data on the recipients of federal research awards and on STEM faculty at U.S. universities (while protecting individuals’ privacy); promote data-driven research on the participation and trajectories of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM so that policy makers can design more effective policies and practices to reduce barriers,” according to the House Science Committee. (Read bill text)

  • STEM Gateways Act (HR 840)

    “Would expand access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for women, minorities, and students from economically-disadvantaged backgrounds. The bill would provide grants for classroom learning, career preparation, mentoring, internships, informal learning and other educational activities,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)

— Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of a complex legislative system. —

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