It's finally March! Can you believe we're already on the third month of the year?! Where has time gone? Any of you still getting used to writing 2023 at the top of your journals and notes? While many might be excited about everyone's favorite drinking holiday (so are we), we're overwhelmed with excitement about celebrating women this month -- well, at least more than usual. March is Women's History Month, a time to celebrate and honor the contributions that women have made throughout history; it's a time to reflect on the past struggles and successes of women, and to recognize the ongoing fight for gender equality -- because despite how far we've come, there's still a long way to go.
Herstory
The celebration of Women's History Month began in the United States in 1981 (anyone else read that thinking "oh, 20 years ago!" or did I just age myself?) when Congress passed a resolution designating the week of March 7th as "Women's History Week." The date was chosen to coincide with International Women's Day, which is celebrated on March 8th. However, a few years later, in 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to the entire month of March, and Women's History Month was born.
Women's History Month is an important time to remember the contributions that women have made throughout history. Women have played a vital role in shaping our world, from politics and science to art and literature. Women have fought for their rights and the rights of others, often in the face of great adversity. Take Amelia Earhart, for instance, she was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and first person ever to fly solo from Hawaii to the US. Or, Marie Curie, who was (and continues to be) the first person to ever receive Nobel Prizes for two different sciences. At the time of her second win, she was the first person to ever receive two Nobel Prizes as well. Her discoveries of radium and polonium and invention of a portable x-ray machine have shaped the way we know science today! Like these two, there are hundreds of women who have shaped the world we live in, many probably never even acknowledged for their work. Thus, it is our responsibility to keep their discoveries alive! Here's a list of 100 women that have have contributed to history.
One of the most significant events in women's history was the fight for suffrage, or the right to vote. Women in the United States and around the world fought for decades to win this basic right, which was finally granted in 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That means that, WWI, the opening of the Panama Canal, the first long distance telephone call (New York to San Francisco), and the worldwide influenza epidemic all occurred before a woman could cast a vote. In fact, the amendments for prohibition and women's right to vote were both ratified in 1919 (prohibition being done so months earlier). Suffragists such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul led the charge, inspiring generations of women to fight for their rights.
Women have also made significant contributions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Women such as Ada Lovelace, who is considered the world's first computer programmer, and Rosalind Franklin, who played a crucial role in the discovery of the structure of DNA, have made groundbreaking contributions to science and technology.
In the arts, women have made significant contributions as well. Writers such as Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, and Toni Morrison have left an indelible mark on literature. Musicians such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Aretha Franklin have made an impact on music that is still felt today.
Our industry
And as you can imagine, our industry is no exception to advancement thanks to women's contributions. Janet Lieberman, for example, left her engineering job in 2013 to start a sex toy company. While it was a joke at first, she shortly realized that there was a gap in pleasure in women's sex life.
"..she teamed up with Alexandra Fine, another Brooklyn-based entrepreneur, to start Dame Products. They designed two vibrators, the Fin and the Eva. Since then, the company has gotten widespread media attention, and broken down barriers: last year, Dame became the first company to receive funding through Kickstarter for a sex toy." - Financial Review
Companies like Dame, Unbound, House of Plume and Sustain, are all New York based tech-savvy and female-led companies shaping the movement in women's sexuality. The incredible women, many younger than 40, are updating sex toys and related products with their own needs in mind, and leading the companies that sell them.
The sex toy industry has also helped women become more comfortable and open about their sexuality. It's a slow process, but day by day, the industry helping highlight the importance of sexual health and wellness, especially for women. Women have been shunned for centuries because of their sexuality, but at last, thanks to pioneers like Janet Lieberman and Alexandra Fine, woman sexuality is being empowered, highlighted, and appreciated for the magical attribute that it is.
Moving forward
Despite the many contributions that women have made throughout history, gender inequality and discrimination persist. Women still face challenges in the workplace, in education, and in many other aspects of life, especially sexual and sensual expression. Women's History Month is a reminder that we must continue to fight for gender equality and work to ensure that all women have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and express their truest identities freely.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Women's History Month is a time to celebrate and honor the contributions that women have made throughout history. It is also a time to recognize the ongoing fight for gender equality and to work towards a world where all women have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Let us use this month to remember the struggles and successes of women, and to renew our commitment to fighting for a better future for all women, as well as their pleasures, and their needs.
xoxo