It may be hard to imagine in 2011, but women were mostly absent from history books until the 1970s. In 1978, Sonoma County, California, began a "Women's History Week" designed to fill in those textbook blanks.
March became Women's History Month in 1981 when Congress approved a joint resolution by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).
Today, few fields are left without prominent women leaders and trail blazers making headlines and paving the way for the next generation of aspiring young girls. Check out these Scholastic Kids Press Corps interviews for an idea of who will grace the pages of the next set of history books printed.
And don't forget to check back all month as Kid Reporters add new stories!
For the latest on national and international events, movies, television, music, sports, and more, check out the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps homepage.
Articles
ABC's Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts of Good Morning America is not only a role model for African-American women, but for all women and all African-Americans. It's a position she is proud of and has worked hard for.
First Woman Firefighter
To be a New York City firefighter is one of the most heroic careers a person can have. It is also one of the most dangerous, especially since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. So is it too dangerous for women? People used to think so.
Women's Rights: Past, Present, and Future
The date is July 19, 1848. You are on your way to Seneca Falls from your hometown of Syracuse. You sit in the shaded carriage, staring at the small town drawing near as your driver begins to slow down. The horses stop in front of a large chapel known as the Wesleyan Methodist Church. You are at the Seneca Falls Convention. This is the scene I imagined as we drove into Seneca Falls.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
In her office, the first woman Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, meets her constituents, her allies, and her adversaries. Today she sits on a dark blue couch in the center of her airy and light filled office to talk to Scholastic News.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Civil right leader Rosa Parks once said, "Each person must live their life as a model for others." One person who recognizes the importance of those words is Kathleen Sebelius, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Astronaut Ellen Ochoa
Dr. Ellen Ochoa is the first Hispanic woman to ever go into space, an inventor, and a mother. She is also a mentor, helping young girls pursue their dreams not matter what they are.
NBA Referee Violet Palmer
In 1997, Violet Palmer not only became the first woman to officiate a National Basketball Association (NBA) game, but also the first woman to officiate any major men's professional sport.
Nobel Prize Winner Elinor Ostrom
At the age of 76, Dr. Elinor Ostrom has become the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in economics. The award was presented in December in Stockholm, Sweden.
Nobel Scientist Carol Greider
Professor Carol Greider is a brilliant scientist who is one of only nine women ever to receive the Nobel Prize in medicine. But before that, as a young girl, she was dyslexic, which impairs a person's ability to read.
New Mexico's Governor Susana Martinez
Governor Susana Martinez made history when she was elected Governor of the state of New Mexico in November. She is the first Hispanic woman to serve as a governor of any state in the U.S.
A Woman in the White House?
Do you think a woman can become President? The White House Project does. For the past 12 years the advocacy organization has been working to make that possible.
- Subjects:Science, American History, Journalism, Courage, Bravery, Heroism, Determination and Perseverance, Equality, Fairness, Justice, Historic Figures, Women's History and Experience, Women's Rights Movement, Women's Suffrage, Leadership, Tolerance and Acceptance, Women's History Month, Sports
