Women’s History Month celebrates the contributions women have made to our country and recognizes the specific achievements they have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields. In Women’s History Month 2021, the United States has its first woman vice-president, the most diverse presidential cabinet (with the first Indigenous cabinet member, a Dakota woman), and the first transgender person to a Senate-confirmed post. While 2020 was a tough year of layoffs that disproportionately impacted women, it also saw the number of female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies reach a record of 37.
History shows this landmark 2021 year for women is not a one time event. The women’s rights movement began to take shape in 1848 at Seneca Falls, New York during the first Woman's Rights Convention. At this convention Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony would form a 50 year friendship. And the two later befriended another key figure of the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Isabella Baumfree, renamed Sojourner Truth, became a prominent figure in the Civil War along with Harriet Tubman. Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman” speech expressed the deep desire and messaging that women, Black or White, should be treated equal to men.
While the 15th amendment “prohibited states from denying a male citizen the right to vote based on “race, color or previous condition of servitude,” it was not until 1920 that women gained the right to vote with the 19th amendment.
March is a celebration of these early and continuing battles, triumphs and contributions, including the celebration of local Women Leaders. We have therefore provided some articles, resources, and much more to learn about local and national female leaders who have and continue to shape our world. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, we hope you’ll find some new inspiration, mostly from our own backyard. And if your shero is missing, local or national, add her into this Google form and we’ll highlight these worthy ladies next month!
Making Women’s History in Colorado, Past & Present
- Women of the Century: 10 influential women in Colorado’s history
- This article features Colorado women like Hattie McDaniel, Madeleine Albright, Justina Ford, and Lily Nie.
- The Women’s Foundation of Colorado & the Dottie Lamm Leadership Award
- Every year, an exemplary woman is honored with this award for her commitment to advancing and accelerating opportunities for women all across the state. Shout out to our very own Heather Lamm, DSST’s Chief Advocacy & Communications Officer, who is the daughter of former First Lady & Activist Dottie Lamm, one of “founding mothers” of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado. Past award winners include:
- 2020: Clarissa Jaime Gonzalez
- 2019: Ananda Birungi
- 2018: Athena Clemens
- Every year, an exemplary woman is honored with this award for her commitment to advancing and accelerating opportunities for women all across the state. Shout out to our very own Heather Lamm, DSST’s Chief Advocacy & Communications Officer, who is the daughter of former First Lady & Activist Dottie Lamm, one of “founding mothers” of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado. Past award winners include:
Notable Colorado Leading Ladies, Present & Past
Dr. Lisa Calderon Currently the Denver Chief of Staff for District 9, she is also a former mayoral candidate and prominent community activist.
Charlotte Perry and Portia Mansfield: In 1913, these two ladies went out to Steamboat Springs, CO and founded Perry-Mansfield, the oldest continuously operating performing arts camp in the country. Sarianna Murphy, English Teacher at Byers, danced and trained here for 9 years! They’ve also hosted and welcomed incredible artists like Agnes deMille, Meryl Streep, and Dustin Hoffman, Robert Battle (Creative Director for Alvin Ailey), Broadway leaders like Steven Schwartz, and many other outstanding artists and community leaders. Their mission was to create a camp that builds “Creative practice through art and nature.” It continues to be one the most beautiful and constructive places for creation in the country.
Notable Women in Military History
- From the Revolutionary War to Today, Learn About Notable Women in the Army
- 8 Female Soldiers Who Changed the Course of US Military History
- 7 Badass Women Who Made Military History
Important Women in Sports History
- The Unrelenting
- Sports Illustrated’s list of the most powerful, most influential and most outstanding women in sports right now—the game-changers who are speaking out, setting the bar and making a difference.
- 25 Most Influential Women in Sports
- Featuring not just athletes but often forgotten sports consultants and team owners, who are often forgotten
Forgotten Women’s History
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What’sHerName Podcast
- Corun by two sisters who focus on uncovering women’s history that has been forgotten, they feature a great range of guests and discussions on their podcast dedicated to bringing life to the “lost” women of history.
Have additional resources to share? Send them to mac@scienceandtech.org
