6 Ideas for Women's History Month Celebrations at Work

There are many wonderful activities that may be done throughout the month of March to celebrate Women's History Month and bring attention to the many achievements that women have made to culture and society. Here is a look at six different ways that corporations may recognize the women who are a part of their teams not just in the month of March but throughout the whole year.

Due to the fact that March is Women's History Month and that March 8 is officially recognized as International Women's Day, it is probable that many companies are making preparations to honor the women who are a part of their teams and celebrate the many accomplishments that they have made. There are many wonderful approaches to use to accomplish this goal. While it is of the utmost significance to recognize the influence that women have had on culture and society during the designated month of celebration, political and business leaders would do well to make it a priority to do so throughout the whole year as well.

A look will be taken here at some of the significant parts that women have played throughout history, as well as the origins of Women's History Month and the many ways in which businesses and other groups may pay tribute to this group of laborers.

important roles played by women in American history

Women have traditionally contributed significantly to influencing history, society, and culture while raising awareness of problems related to gender inequity, discrimination against women, and women's rights. Some of the well-known people who are often highlighted during Women's History Month include the following:

Sacagawea:a Native American woman who was instrumental in ensuring the success of Lewis and Clark's voyage to survey portions of the western United States in the early 19th century.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony:two women from the United States who battled for equal rights for women in the middle of the 19th century, more than 70 years before the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920.
Harriet Tubman:During the American Civil War, she was a courageous and resolute lady who led hundreds of slaves to freedom.
Amelia Earhar:one of the first female pilots in the history of aviation, as well as the first female aviator to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean. She vanished in 1937 somewhere over the Pacific Ocean for unknown reasons.
Madeleine Albright: diplomat and political scientist who, in 1996, became the first woman to hold the position of Secretary of State.
Misty Copeland: 2015 was the year in which American Ballet Theatre promoted a black woman to the position of main dancer for the first time in the company's history of 75 years.

Why March is Women's History Month

One day was all it took to start the tradition of celebrating the role women have played throughout history on an annual basis. The day ultimately became into a week, and it has since grown into the current month-long festival that we commemorate.

On February 28, 1909, the United States celebrated National Women's Day for the very first time. The concept was favorably embraced all around the globe, and the first International Women's Day was celebrated in 1911. More than one million people participated in demonstrations held in different countries throughout the world. In 1975, the United Nations General Assembly formally designated March 8 as International Women's Day. This occurred many decades after the holiday was first celebrated.

In 1978, educators in Santa Rosa, California, publicly recognized the accomplishments and achievements of women with a local celebration to raise awareness of Women's History Week for the first time. The purpose of the event was to increase awareness. The project, which was initially planned to coincide with International Women's Day during the first week of March, quickly gathered traction, and communities all throughout the country began participating.

After that, a coalition of women's organizations and historians successfully fought for national recognition of the event. As a result, in 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation declaring that March 8 would be the beginning of a National Women's History Week. At long last, in 1987, Congress designated the full month of March as Women's History Month and began celebrating the occasion. Every president elected after Ronald Reagan has maintained their previous level of support for the month-long event.

The evolution of Women's History Month themes

During Women's History Month, a different topic is selected year by the National Women's History Alliance. Previously discussed topics have included:

Recognizing Women Who Have Made Strides in Labor and Business (2017)
Nonetheless, she did not give up: Paying Tribute to Ladies Who Struggle Against All Kind of Discrimination Against Women (2018)

Women of Vision: Frontrunners in the Fight for Nonviolence and Peace (2019)
Women Voters Who Showed Bravery (2020)
Women Voters Who Refuse to Be Silenced Despite Obstacles and Obstacles: (2021)
Women Serving as Healers and Spreading Hope (2022)

Honoring Women Who Share Our Stories will be the year 2023's central subject. You are not need to stick to the subject, but it might provide you with a jumping off place for ideas. According to what the Alliance has stated, the goal is to "I would like to encourage the recognition of women, both in the past and in the present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, news, and social media. These forms of media and storytelling include both historical and contemporary examples. This relevant topic pays tribute to women from all walks of life who have given their lives and skills to the creation of art and journalism, the pursuit of truth, and the reflection of society over the course of many decades."

Six ways to celebrate women's history at work

Not only does the discussion about women and the accomplishments they have made continue throughout the month of March and the rest of the year as part of Women's History Month, but it also centers itself on the particular subject that is selected for the year. Not just in the month of March, but throughout the whole year, business owners, leadership teams, and others in the workplace may take a variety of meaningful actions to demonstrate their solidarity with and support for the women who work alongside them in the office.

The following is a list of six concepts that your organization may want to consider championing:

1. Organize informative "lunch and learns"

You may want to think about organizing an information session to take place during the lunch break. During this session, speakers might discuss prominent women both in the past and in the present. This is an excellent method for educating staff members about notable historical people and celebrating the accomplishments of these individuals. It is possible to cover a wide range of subjects, from influential women in politics and industry to well-known female pioneers in the field of innovation who have shaped the modern world.

2. Launch a program for staff appreciation

To demonstrate gratitude for an exceptional woman who works for your company, you may ask the other workers to submit nominations for "woman of the year." Acknowledge the winner in front of the whole business by holding a ceremony at an all-hands meeting or publishing an announcement about it in a corporate newsletter, email, or on the firm's website. You may even choose to commemorate the person by awarding them a trophy, plaque, or poster that contains words of admiration from their coworkers. Additional awards might also be given out throughout the year, perhaps on a quarterly basis. These awards could be things like a "woman to watch" award or a "women who assist other women" award, respectively.

3. Arrange a trip to a virtual museum.

Virtual online exhibitions, papers, video clips, and images of pioneering women from the past and present are available from organizations such as the Natural Women's History Museum. These resources may be used to gain knowledge about these individuals. The museum explores a wide range of themes pertaining to the history of women, such as the women who worked at NASA, women's roles in social justice and Scientific fields, women's participation in conflicts, and first ladies, among other subjects. Also, they have an exhibit titled "First But Not the Last," which tells the experiences of women who have run for president in the past. You should also have a look at the online exhibit titled "Standing up for Change: African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement." This exhibit highlights the extraordinary women who were the driving force behind the historic battle for equality.

4. Host a book group with a women's fiction focus.

There are a lot of popular novels about successful women, ranging from fictitious characters to real-life icons, and there are a lot of fantastic tales given by women writers. These books and stories may help start important dialogues about the obstacles women face and the accomplishments they make. Choose a book, provide everyone the opportunity to read it, and then choose a time and location to talk about the book as a group. This may even be done online, and it can take place on a regular basis; in average, book clubs get together once every two months.

5. Promote reflective dialogue and engagement

Motivate coworkers to engage in conversation with one another by requesting that they write comments on women who have had a good influence on their life and put them on a bulletin board or in another communal place where they can be seen by others. Some inventive approaches to foster feelings of gratitude and teamwork include bringing attention to the remarkable women who work for the organization or publicizing the unique contributions and successes of the women on your team. Conversations may be encouraged and stronger relationships can be made amongst workers via activities like these.

6. Establish a business support network

Changing the culture of your company over the long term will help you maintain diversity at the forefront of your thoughts throughout the year. Planning activities and conducting events are both fantastic methods to commemorate the accomplishments that women have made. For example, forming a company resource group might encourage workers to interact with one another and discuss topics related to their shared experiences and interests. But, these gatherings are more than just for socializing. They may have an effect on the broader organization's approach to diversity, equality, and inclusion (DE&I) by spreading awareness and opinions to other departments, and they may also take part in chances for career development, networking, and service projects.

Participating in Women's History Month with everyone

You can come up with a lot of methods for your organization to acknowledge the historic achievements that women have accomplished, but it's a good idea to ask your workers how they want to celebrate Women's History Month since they may have different ideas than you do. You may ask for feedback via a survey that you set up or through an email that you sent out. Not only will this help you send a message of dedication to the women who work for you, but it will also guarantee that you choose the appropriate campaigns to promote your diversity, equity, and inclusion plan.

An increasing emphasis is being put on inclusiveness, and as a result, preparing to commemorate women's history throughout the whole year may help an organization's culture become more robust, and it can also assist individual employees in feeling noticed and supported.

6 Ideas for Women's History Month Celebrations at Work