Women have been through quite a colorful history. We've witnessed many terrible times and triumphant times. From black women being seen as property without our basic human rights, having our right to vote taken away, making abortion legal, fighting to get our right to vote back and finally be taken seriously in the workforce, we've seen and done it all.
We have had our fair share of trailblazing women doing the remarkable. Women like Rosa Parks and her Montgomery Bus Boycott. Mary Wollstonecraft and her fight to end female suffrage. Marie Curie and her Nobel Prize win for two separate categories — making her the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Anne Frank and her famous diaries detailing her life as a Jewish woman in Germany. These and many other women paved the way for how we live our lives today.
For such a crazy and extensive history, many of it is kept out of our history textbooks, and the focus rests on the actions of men. All of this can change, though, with the building of the National Woman's History Museum.
Earlier this month, former first lady, Laura Bush, joined the push to have the museum built right on the National Mall in Washington D.C.
She spoke at the Women Making History Awards Gala, saying we need to "redouble our efforts to make sure there’s a women’s museum right here in our country.”
"It's really important to have a museum that focuses on women because half of the population is left out from American history," she said. "We need to figure out how we can encourage women to run for office and to run for president."
Bush wasn't the only woman to push for this. Former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, also voiced her support through video.
"I'm certain many of us can still remember that eye-opening moment -- often much later than we should have -- as we saw ourselves reflected back from the pages of our history books for the first time. That's an experience every child should have," she said. "I look forward to the day when both my granddaughter and grandson can visit the National Women's History Museum and come away feeling a little braver, walking a little taller, knowing they stand on the shoulders of generations of history makers and trailblazers."
These two women aren't the only ones with strong opinions. Millennial women had a lot to say about the idea of a women's history museum.
University of Central Florida graduate, An Nguyen, is in full support of the museum.
"Every museum has a central theme. I think this is no different. There are museums for chocolate, toilets, sex etc. Why shouldn't there be museums for women's history, or black history or whatever?" she said. "I think a women's history museum is a great idea since the history of what women had to go through to gain equality is quite interesting and admirable. I believe a lot of people take for granted how hard women have had to work in the past to make life easier for modern women today. However, there is still work to be done. I think that all women should come together to support equality and women's rights."
Hillsborough Community College student, Bianca Hernandez, says a women's museum would be pretty neat.
"Perhaps the money could be spent in better ways and [museums] shouldn't be separated by things like race or gender," she said. "But I think it would end up being grand. Considering over history how much women were neglected or mistreated."
Colorado Christian University student, Amina Chinnell-Mateen, says it's ridiculous for people to not want a museum that is just on women's history.
"I think that's crazy. I think a black history museum -- for example -- is imperative because it is separate beyond the history of other cultures," says Mateen. "So why not a women's history museum alongside everyone else?"
Danielle Shutts says she likes the idea of having a place to go to learn about women's history. "[A women's museum] could probably give some young women the confidence that a woman can do just as much as a man can do and they can make a difference too."
Elizabeth Hernandez, who is currently in basic training for the United States Air Force, says although this is a good cause and idea, she'd like to see money being spent in more productive ways.
"To be honest they could prioritize in something like finding schools or something that'll benefit communities," Hernandez said. "In my opinion, it's fine they want to achieve a common goal. But I find it to be a bit... disappointing they want to spend the resources on a museum. I'd rather see some growth in schools, funds for anything to help with local resources."
Women weren't the only ones with an opinion. Men also had a lot to say on this matter.
University of South Florida graduate, Luu Minh, loves the idea of a women's history museum. "I think it is necessary to have a physical location for a women's history museum because gender equality should be taken more seriously from everybody."
Minh disagrees with the thought of not separating a museum based on things like gender and race.
"A museum is a place that collects and displays history, and without a stance, the museum will not serve it purpose, but instead turn into a gallery. Every museum in the world does have a specific topic to cover, so why not gender and race as suitable topics? If you look at gender and/or race objectively, then indeed it is a suitable subject for a museum."
Jonathan Bermudez disagrees and says museums shouldn't be separated by gender or race.
"I feel sad that we have to separate history between gender of man and woman. It shows me that woman aren't important in history. Or that we are lead to believe that at least. Same goes for racial history divided. Why not a museum of all history with different departments? One big museum. That's just how I feel about it though. I think if we want true equality we shouldn't divide in that manner."
Currently, the National Women's History Museum is fully online. They've spent two decades trying to get a physical location for the museum.