In 1978, the Education Task Force of Sonoma County (California), recognized that women’s history was a virtually unspoken topic in school systems, let alone within the general population. To address this issue the Task Force commissioned a “Women’s History Week”, which was celebrated the week of March 8th. Met with enthusiastic response, “Women’s History Week” soon became a nationwide phenomenon. School districts across the country realized there was a lack of representation in their curriculums, acknowledging the efforts of pioneering women. After dedicated lobbying efforts, in February of 1980, President Carter officially declared the week of March 8th, National Women’s History Week.
Carter issued an iconic proclamation that states, “From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.”
This was the first time a U.S. president formally recognized the importance of women’s history, serving as a significant impact on the movement. Soon, with efforts by congress, in 1995, Women’s History Week was converted into a month-long celebration. Since then, each president has released a proclamation confirming the event.
March is now annually marked as Women’s History Month, a time to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of women of past and current generations. The National Women’s History Alliance yearly presents a theme, this year being “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” By enacting these celebrations in classrooms, the importance of equity has been highlighted to different stages of life, hopefully changing former stigmas. In the approximately 45 years that the National Women’s History Alliance has existed, they have strived to amplify a diverse women’s voices to make sure their contributions are recognized.
“Looking back on women’s history we can see clear indications of how women have been oppressed in the past so by educating younger generations we can help change the future,” said San Marcos photography teacher, Ms. Dawson.
Santa Barbara has been home to a number of women who have made significant contributions in different fields throughout history, one notable woman being Madame Ganna Walska. Most famously known for creating Lotusland, Ganna Walska, born in Brest, Belarus in 1887, and formed the famed botanical garden in her home in Montecito. Walska has an inspiring resume of occupations she held over the years, including theatre owner, perfumer, acting in the 1916 film The Child of Destiny, writing the novel Always Room at the Top, and being a talented Polish opera singer. Madame Walska was born Hanna Puacz, but decided to change her name for the stage when pursuing her opera singing career. She toured America and Europe, capturing audience’s attention from both sides of the Atlantic before deciding to settle in Montecito and dedicating 43 years of her life to the creation of Lotusland. She was notorious for being wed to six different men, four of which were notably wealthy, though her legacy far exceeds the men she was involved with.
Before her passing in 1984, Walska stated, “Now the word ‘impossible’ does not exist in my vocabulary. Nothing is impossible.” This affirmation is exemplified in her vast, and impactful career that proves that women are quite capable of more than one achievement in life, if motivated and it is certainly worth being celebrated.
