The seed for Women’s History Month (WHM) was planted in 1981, when Congress initially proclaimed a week in March to recognize women’s contribution to history. In 1987, Congress designated the entire month of March as Women’s History Month. Recently, McKinsey & Company published a report stating that diversity and inclusion matter now more than ever before. To that end, it is not lost on us that the 2024 theme, created by the National Women’s History Alliance, is focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion! We must acknowledge we have come far, and in doing so, recognize we still have far to go and continue to strive for a future where all women have the same opportunities as men. This means removing barriers and setting up equitable playing fields.
The creators of this year’s theme list equity first! We must also recognize equity is not the same as equality. Equality means fairness and providing the same to all. While equality is extremely important, equity goes further in addressing the fact that we do not all start from the same place, and we must, whenever possible, make adjustments to correct imbalances.
