Women’s History Month exposes patriarchal underbelly of ambivalence

Though they have always existed in every culture at every time, women have never been represented as they should. Being treated as less than men, having accomplishments brushed to the side, keeping quiet for their own safety—when will equality be universal? Celebrating women’s presence is a great starting point. March marks the annual celebration of Women’s History Month in the United States, a time where everyone can be unified and grow by reflecting on the experiences of the past to hopefully craft a greater future.

Women’s History Month was first recognized nationally when Congress passed Public Law 97-28 in 1987, recognizing women’s impact on America as a whole. It started off quite small “as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California” where “the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County, California, Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a ‘Women’s History Week’ celebration in 1978,” (National Women’s History Museum). It was powered mainly through schools which hosted an essay competition, an empowering choice as women have historically been barred from a proper education and rights to be involved in academics. According to “The Education of Girls and Women in the United States: A Historical Perspective,” an essay by Jennifer C. Madigon of San Jose University, the latest restrictions on women’s involvement in schools are somewhat ongoing because the Women’s Educational Equality Act (WEEA) has received funding cuts. Madigon stated that, “in the 1980s…funding for WEEA was drastically cut.” The cuts signify a sudden change in priority, tragically reinforcing the need and purpose of Women’s History Month efforts.

Although not globally recognized yet, the Month provides support and encouragement for all women. Women’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai focuses mainly on access to education as well. She was shot in 2012 after speaking out against her education being limited by the actions of the Taliban, an Afghan military and political organization. However, she didn’t let her dedication to advocating for women’s education waver. Along with her father, Yousafzai went on to create the “Malala Fund,” seeking to continue providing support for these rights with funding. She stated that, “we need to encourage girls that their voice matters. I think there are hundreds of Malalas out there.” While her impact reaches a vast number of women, the hate crime she experienced unfortunately still prevails in areas of the world, though funding can contribute to awareness. Women often suffer gender-based violence or even femicide, which refers to the intentional murder due to misogyny. According to the United Nations, “83,000 women and girls were killed intentionally [2024]. 60 per cent – or 50,000 women and girls – were killed at the hands of intimate partners or family members.” Education is needed to continue combating misogynistic violence.

In the United States, an ongoing issue directly concerns women’s healthcare rights. Abortion is not identified as a constitutional right anymore, as of 2022, when Roe v. Wade was overturned. This conclusion made it so that allowing or restricting abortion is up to state discretion, rather than federal guarantee. Now, “one in three women live in states where abortion is not accessible. In the first few months after Roe was overturned, 18 states banned or severely restricted abortion” (Planned Parenthood). With such a lack of simple access to healthcare, some women are forced to travel and pay more for a basic right. Ignorance and opinions should not have any influence on women’s right to choose, but there is still progress to be made. Fear and stigma exist around the topic because there is a lack of education. Blind judgment should not define the basis of healthcare.

Women’s History Month emphasizes the importance of women’s impacts in the past and present of society, but also highlights the need for universal equality. Acknowledgement and celebration is a first step towards the idea, but education is necessary to truly achieve it. Women aren’t being properly represented if femicide still exists yet abortion is demonized.

by Samreen Chahal

Published March 2, 2026

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue V