Celebrating Women

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Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 9 (March 2010).

Celebrating Women
by Casey (Cas*)

Every March, in the U.S., we celebrate women's history month. The international day for women's history also falls on the eighth of March. Why is women's history, and not men's, so important that it has its own month? Throughout history men have had more rights and acknowledgment than women. On the other hand, women were excluded from many history books and texts and weren't allowed to do many things, like vote or work as doctors, so celebrating all of the things that women have accomplished celebrates that change.

It doesn't seem fair that women only get a single month, or even just a day, out of the whole year dedicated to them, while men are celebrated every day (from Columbus Day to Martin Luther King Day and more). And it's not because women did not do anything until after the 1920s. Women did plenty, and we know some of those women: Amelia Earhart, Clara Barton, and Susan B. Anthony. But there are some lesser known women who also made a great impact on the world we live in today, either in the things they did or how they lived their lives.

Tz'u Hsi (1835 – 1908), also known as Empress Cixi, was the first female regent in China. She was actually regent twice, after her husband's death. Once with her son, who was around five. After his death, she placed her nephew, who was three, on the throne, and acted as regent until her death. She died a day after her nephew, whom she had arrested for radical ideas.

Jeannette Rankin (1880 – 1973) was the first woman to be elected to the House of Representatives (United States) in 1916. She was called "the Lady of the House", as she was the only female member of Congress at that time. She was also the only person in Congress to vote against United States entry into World War Two.

Rosalind Franklin (1920 – 1958) helped discover the helical structure of DNA, but that is not all the she did. She was a scientist in her own right, and she made many important contributions to the understanding of the molecular structure of viruses, coal, RNA, and graphite. It wasn't until the late 1960s, years after her death, that she was actually credited for the work she did.

Jane Goodall (b 1934) is well known for the work she does, and the time she spends studying chimpanzees. She studied the social and family structure of chimpanzees for forty-five years! She is a global leader in the attempt to protect chimpanzees and their natural habitats.

Indira Gandhi (1917 – 1984) was the first female Prime Minister of India. After her father's death, and the death of his successor, she was appointed to the position of Prime Minister. She nationalized banks, brought a peaceful end to the war with Pakistan, boosted trade, along with many other things. She was Prime Minister for three consecutive terms, and then from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.

Joan of Arc (1412 – 1431) lead the resistance to the invasion of France in the hundred year war. She was born a peasant, and claimed divine guidance. Whether you believe that or not, she lead the French to many decisive victories during the hundred year war. Sadly she was burned at the stake when she was nineteen, because she was believe to use magic and witchcraft.

Some of these women you may have heard of, some you may have not, but their influence over our world has been great, even if you don't notice the changes, or the liberties, that women now have. Women in developed countries can vote, hold government offices, work outside the home, work in the sciences and maths, and can lead nations. In some third world countries, women are still living unjustly, without these liberties we have today. Women in these places have little political power. They take care of the home, the children, and they work, but they do not influence the government. It is something we are not used to; most of us have never been third rate citizens, most of us are used to having a voice in our lives and futures.

So this March, I encourage you to learn more about the important women who made it so that you could be free, and to also help those women who are still finding their voice, whether in another country, or by helping out at a local women's shelter. But most importantly, this March, celebrate the women who have made a difference in your own personal life.

www.angelfire.com
womenshistory.about.com
teacher.scholastic.com