The month of March brings some pretty spectacular things our way: some desperately-needed sunshine, the end of dreadful midterms, and the ever-so-coveted Spring Break. But March is about a lot more than saying "peace out" to your textbooks and hello to sandy beaches. It’s a time to celebrate kick ass women for Women’s History Month.
What comes to mind when you think of history? A class you hated in high school? Old, rich, white men? Yeah, me too. But when I think of women in history, it’s a whole different ball game (one that girls can play too). I think of women of various races and sexualities. I think of women who have relentlessly fought, both alongside and for one another, in the struggle for equality. I think of women who have paved the way and women who are still paving. I think of my mom, my sister, and beautiful nieces. I think of a day when women won’t be earning 77 cents on the dollar. I think of a day when the words “she must have been asking for it” will never be muttered again. I think of a day when women of color don’t have to choose between fighting for sexism and racism, a day when minority women aren’t pushed to the outskirts of the feminist movement.
I think of a day when there’s nothing left to pave.
Women’s History Month isn’t just about celebrating influential women of the past. It isn’t just about working towards the betterment of women within your own race, community, or sexual identity. This celebration of women goes far beyond the month of March, it's something to be remembered day in and day out. We must unify across different intersections of identity in order to form a collective “we;" we must do this without stripping women of their individuality and lived experiences. We can all be kick ass women, and we can all kick ass together. This Spring Break find a way to celebrate Women’s History Month! Read Alice Walker while you’re tanning on the beach or jam out to Beyonce; whatever you do and whoever you are, celebrate women and all they have done, all they are doing, and all they will do.
