Did you know Women’s History Month started as just a week? It wasn’t until 1987 that it became a full month after years of lobbying!
And International Women’s Day (March 8) was first recognized in Europe —its date was inspired by the Russian Revolution in 1917, when women protested for “bread and peace.”
But here’s where it gets wild: Did you know…
Women’s basketball was once played in corsets. Imagine a full-court press in THAT!
Economic Empowerment: Women couldn’t get credit cards in their own names until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974!
Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein at just 18 years old, launching sci-fi as a genre!
Unknown Contributions: Sybil Ludington rode 40+ miles to warn militias in the American Revolution, and Rosalind Franklin’s work was key to discovering DNA’s structure—yet both are often overlooked.
Purple, green, and white are the official colors of International Women’s Day!
Annual Themes: Each year, Women’s History Month has a specific theme. The 2024 theme is Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion—this year, many actions focus on abortion rights.
Claudette Colvin’s Courage: Before Rosa Parks, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to give up her bus seat in 1955, helping spark the civil rights movement.
Women in Space: Sally Ride wasn’t just the first American woman in space—she was also the first gay astronaut, though this wasn’t publicly known until her obituary.
What’s the most surprising fact here? Drop a ๐ if you learned something new!
