Celebrate Women's History Month & Join Contest Win $500!
Women's History Month began in 1978 as "Women's History Day" in Sonoma County, California, and was championed by Gerda Lerner and the National Women's History Alliance to be recognized as a national week (1980) and then month (1987) in the United States, spreading internationally after that. The commemoration is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8, and during October in Canada, corresponding with the celebration of Persons Day on October 18.
In the United States, Women's History Month traces its beginnings back to the first International Women's Day in 1911. The holiday had been largely forgotten in the US until the late 1960s, when an activist calling herself Laura X organized a march in Berkeley, CA, on International Women’s Day. The march led to the U.S. rediscovery of International Women’s Day, and the creation of The Women’s History Research Center, a central archive of the Women’s movement from 1968 to 1974. Laura X thought it unfair for half the human race to have only one day a year and called for National Women’s History Month to be built around International Women’s Day.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women's History Week. The proclamation stated the importance of recognizing the vital contributions of women to America's heritage, leadership, courage, strength, and love. Carter urged libraries, schools, and community organizations to focus their observances on the leaders who struggled for equality, such as Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, and Alice Paul. Carter's proclamation was followed by a joint congressional resolution proclaiming a Women's History Week, and by 1987, Women's History Month was officially recognized by Congress.
Since then, Women's History Month has been celebrated annually with engaging and stimulating programs about women's roles in history and society. State departments of education have encouraged celebrations of Women's History Month as a way to promote equality among the sexes in the classroom, and schools across the country have planned events such as essay contests. Women's History Month is an important time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women throughout history and to inspire future generations of women to achieve their full potential.
At LeonLite, we believe that lighting is an essential part of creating a comfortable and welcoming home. And who knows more about creating a warm and nurturing home than women? Women have always been the backbone of the family, and their contributions often go unrecognized. That's why, in honor of Women's History Month, we're holding a picture and video contest showcasing how women use LeonLite lighting products to create beautiful and functional living spaces. By celebrating women's creativity and ingenuity, we hope to inspire others to see the connection between lighting, home, and family, and to appreciate the vital role that women play in creating a cozy and welcoming home.
(some pics from internet)
