Women’s Pride By: Janaya Buckley

National Women's month will be celebrated in March here in the United States. It is a month dedicated to recognizing and honoring the accomplishments, culture and contributions of women throughout history.

It seems like so long ago that women began to break the mold of how society expected them to act, and since then humanity has accomplished so many wonderful feats in regards to art, politics, business, sports and more - from Simone Biles, regarded as one of the best gymnasts of this era, to Kamala Harris, who served as America’s first woman of color vice-president. As such, in the United States we have so many talented women who deserve recognition this month. 

Decades ago, women’s numbers in the workplace were limited, by the 1900s only around 20 percent of women were employed in the U.S.workforce. Of this amount, only about six percent of married women worked. However, during and after World War II, the number of women in the workforce grew exponentially.

“Although significant progress has been made for women, particularly in recent decades, traditional attitudes and gendered expectations continue to reinforce barriers such as the glass ceiling,” Jennifer Shoemake, adjunct instructor of Sociology, said. “Women today not only participate fully in the workforce but also have greater opportunities to build and generate their own wealth.”

  “The rapid growth of women in business, especially in leadership roles such as CEOs, doctors and lawyers, highlights this progress. In the past, women were excluded from many of these professions due to deeply rooted patriarchal beliefs that confined their roles to the home. While balancing professional and personal responsibilities can still present challenges, there is clear and growing evidence of women thriving in positions of power and influence beyond the home.”

Currently, as women participate in general society, there are some who go above and beyond and their feats are worth recognizing this month, such as Jennifer Douda who pioneered CRISPR - gene editing which allows DNA to be altered and edited, allowing treatment for genetic disorders, cancer and other diseases. Outside of humans, CRISPR is also used for crops and to yield more successful harvests, which has happened in apples, wheat and corn.

Simone Biles, described as the most ‘decorated gymnast in history and her ability certainly lives up to her title as she has won over 20 medals, 11 of them being Olympic Medals, and with most of those being gold (7 gold,2 silver,2 bronze). Politically, aside from Kamala Harris serving as our previous vice president, as of March 2025, there are 26 women serving in the Senate with Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Rochester of Delaware serving simultaneously, marking them as the first black women to serve at the same time in the  United States Senate.

“There is much to consider when examining the historical relationship between women and society,” Shoemake said. “For centuries, women were denied access to formal education or limited to subjects considered ‘appropriate’, such as domestic skills. This restriction significantly hindered their economic independence and opportunities for professional advancement. Additionally, women were often confined to socially acceptable occupations—such as teaching, nursing or domestic work, while being excluded from leadership positions and higher-status professions. Even when they were permitted to work, they were frequently paid less than their male counterparts.”  

Even though there are only a few days dedicated to women throughout the year, appreciating women should not stop on Mother's day, Women’s Day or Women’s month. Women should always be recognized and appreciated day by day; from grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters to friends. Taking the time to appreciate others different from yourself helps us all live in a colorful and caring community. Not in one where one gender is superior than the other, but in one where we are all equal despite our contrasted genders.

“Discussing women’s collaboration means recognizing the impact of allowing half the population to fully share their talents, insight and leadership,” Shoemake said. “The optics of women in roles of merit and morale are needed for the benefit of social change and generational impact. One benefit that I can think of off the top of my head is a wider perspective in decision-making. When women are actively involved in business, politics, science, and community leadership, the resulting policies and innovations tend to reflect a broader range of experiences and viewpoints. This often produces more inclusive and effective solutions.”