Fact #1: The Birth of Women’s History Day (1909) 

On February 28, 1909, the very first Women’s History Day was held in New York City. That date marked one year since a garment workers’ strike in Manhattan, when 15,000 female workers and supporters marched for safer and more humane working conditions, along with fair wages.

This show of collective courage showcased strength in numbers, growth, and held the U.S. accountable to treating women more fairly. The power of grassroots movements shows how a community of ordinary women sparked national recognition, connecting to the GoBundance principle of growth beginning with bold action. 

Economic justice and progressive, equitable leadership were intertwined in the push for women’s rights from the start, and both are things we continue to strive to improve in the modern day for ourselves and others. 

Fact #2: From a Day to a Month—the Rise of Women’s History Week (1978–1987) 

In 1978, an education task force in California conducted a week-long observance of women’s history, starting March 8. President Jimmy Carter formally recognized this as Women’s History Week in 1980, and in 1987, activists and supporters lobbied Congress for a whole month dedicated to the cause. 

After gaining national recognition, Congress declared March 1987 the first official Women’s History Month. 

Advocacy and education helped create a lasting impression and set the precedent for the future of acknowledging and fighting for women’s rights through growth, community and accountability.

Fact #3: Dedicating Storytelling Themes for Each Women’s History Month

Every Women’s History Month since 1987 has been assigned a theme to highlight a certain cause, movement, or feminist activists and pioneers.

For example, the National Women’s History Alliance showcased the 2020 Women’s History Month was, “Valiant Women of the Vote.” This recognized, “the centennial of the 19th Amendment, we will honor women from the original suffrage movement as well as 20th and 21st-century women who have continued the struggle (fighting against poll taxes, literacy tests, voter roll purges, and other more contemporary forms of voter suppression) to ensure voting rights for all,” according to the National Women’s History Alliance.

This year, the theme for National Women’s History is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” which aims to focus on creating legacy beyond environmental impact. 

The storytelling each month focuses on strengthening identity.

Fact #4: Beginning the Fight for Voting Rights 

In the United States, women first gained the right to vote in 1869 in the Wyoming Territory before it was officially a state. Wyoming also elected Nellie Taylor Ross to office 1924, making her the first female governor in the U.S.!

Globally, New Zealand was the first country in the world that allowed women the right to vote in 1897. They were followed by other nations such as the UK, Finland, and more. In fact, 20 countries around the world granted women full and equal rights to vote before the United States. 

Early access to political power for women helps to fuel broader opportunity for growth. Leadership and influence are foundations for building and living and abundant life. 

Fact #5: The 19th Amendment—Progress With Limits 

In history class, we often learn that the 19^th amendment to the Constitution granted women the right to vote in the United States as of August 26, 1920. However, even this mighty leap in progress for women’s rights came with its own set of limitations. 

During this era, many women were still excluded from voting, including Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Latina women, and essentially anyone else who wasn’t white. Gender oppression and racism have prevailed throughout our country’s history in pervasive, insidious and systemic manners.  

For instance, Native American women weren’t considered U.S. citizens under the law until 1924, which granted them the right to vote—at least on paper. Standard voter suppression practices and Jim Crow laws prevented most women of color from voting for many decades.

While the 19th Amendment is considered a victory, it is an incomplete one. Honest reflection and valuing accountability is what enables true growth.

Fact #6: The Voting Rights Act of 1965 

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, deeming discrimination and suppression tactics meant to keep women and minorities from voting illegally across the entire United States. 

This legal protection ensured that women and minorities were submitting voter ballots and showing up at voter polling places, empowering and protecting their voices. Essentially, this law told women and minorities that they do have a say, and it is valued. 

This law showcases important justice, growth and accountability that supports success. Sustainable success itself requires fair systems, and we’re dedicated to continuing to work toward it. 

Fact #7: Equal Credit Opportunity Act, 1974 

The Voting Rights Act was an important piece of universal legislation, but it certainly didn’t level the playing field for women’s rights. For instance, U.S. women couldn’t take out a credit card by themselves  without having a man co-sign to be a joint account holder until 1974 when the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. 

This act gave women, minorities, and other under-served groups expanded access to credit cards, mortgage, banking, and credit. Economic independence has a direct correlation to empowerment.  

Fact #8: The Persistence of the Gender Pay Gap  

There is still a vast discrepancy when it comes to men’s and women’s employment and compensation.

According to a Pew Research article by Richard Fry and Carolina Aragão, “in 2024, women 25 to 34 earned an average of 95 cents for every dollar earned by a man in the same age group—a 5-cent gap.” Additionally, there’s a 15 cent gender pay gap for workers of all ages in 2024. 

To showcase the slow progression in improvement toward gender pay equity, in 2003%, women earned around 81% of what men earned, and in 2023, women earned 85% of what men earned. That’s only a 4% difference in just over a decade. 

Kelly Reilly, J.D., M.B.A. and Katherine Haan of Forbes explained that currently, “women still earn 16% less than men on average.” 

There are barriers both controlled and uncontrolled to equitable advancement in closing the wage gap, but advocating for equity strengthens economic systems. Continued leadership development is a must.  

Fact #9: Women in Politics 

Women’s voices are being heard across all aspects of society like never before. As of early 2025, the 119th Congress was comprised of 28.65% women. 155 of the 535 seats were held by women, which was a historic high. In recent years, Kamala Harris was sworn in as the first female vice president and first vice president of color. 

There are more female activists and pioneers fighting for rights and social progress across all ages and segments of society. There’s a rise in activists and leaders continuing to use their Big Voices and showing cross-generational progress and proving that representation multiplies opportunity. 

We strive to mirror these lessons from the past—lessons of courage, persistence, community and vision. In the modern sense, these lessons can be applied in business leadership, financial independence, balancing health with life and living authentically. 

Women’s history and the push for equity supports purpose-driven success, ethical wealth and emotional resilience. 

Women’s History Month is not just remembrance—it is momentum.