The start of March signifies the start of Women’s History Month— 31 days dedicated to the achievements and contributions of hard-working women worldwide. However, some people argue that Women’s History Month is sexist, with the famous rebuttal, “Why isn’t there a Men’s History Month?”
In a classroom, we are more likely to learn of the contributions of famous men throughout history, such as scientist Jonas Salk and astronaut Buzz Aldrin, without giving recognition to Marie Curie and Sally Ride.
The achievements of men make up most of the pages in our history books, while women’s work is given a paragraph at most. A classroom environment that is meant to provide unbiased education to all students subconsciously encourages men to pursue careers in STEM jobs, while women are silently pushed toward home economics or education.
A classroom that is meant to be a safe haven for students can actively grow mentally and socially, but will encourage rough behavior amongst boys, and will silence the concerns of girls by saying that “they’re just being boys,” or “when a boy hits you, it’s because he secretly likes you. ”A classroom environment, in which young girls are taught that apart of themselves will be lost if they lose their virginity before marriage, rather than stressing the importance of safe and consensual sex.
Consider a work environment in which a woman is less likely to receive a job position. 1 in 3 women between the ages of 18-34 will be sexually harassed, according to a survey from Cosmopolitan: and only 29 percent will report the incident. And out of those 29 percent of women who reported the issue, only 15 percent feel that the issue was handled fairly.
Think of our world in which the top government houses making decisions in regards to women’s bodies are primarily male.
Our world: where 50 percent of the young girls in Yemen will become child brides, according to figures accumulated by Humans Rights Watch.
Our world: where 65 percent of the Brazil's population believe that if a woman is dressed in a revealing way that she deserves to be attacked, according to a 2014 study.
So, before you open your mouth and ask if we really need Women’s History Month, think of your mother. Think of your grandmother. Think of all the strong, independent women in your life and for just a moment, imagine yourself in their shoes.
Imagine dedicating your life to a certain cause, whether it be to find a cure to a rare disease or giving your children a better life. Imagine all of the hard work, the blood, sweat, and tears that got you to where you are at this point in time.
Now imagine being told that your achievements aren’t important— that they don’t matter— simply because of an ascribed status and society’s warped views. Wouldn’t you be angry?
And that, my friends, is why we need Women’s History Month.
