|
Links are currently disabled |
| 2008 Spring Concert | |
| By the Special Events Commity | |
|
|
By Kayleen St. Luis
Managing Editor
In 1978, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women started Women’s History Week to promote the teaching of women’s history. It became so popular that in 1981, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution making the week a celebration for the entire country.
Several significant factors contributed to the emergence of women’s history, as well as several hard working women. During the civil war reformers not only fought for the abolition of slavery but also pressed for women’s rights.
Cady Stanton (1815-1902), an American feminist, was an especially prominent figure in the movement. Infuriated after being denied her seat at an anti-slavery conference she began to build a movement for women’s rights.
She along with Susan B. Anthony organized the national women’s suffrage movement that started in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York. During this conference they passed 12 resolutions demanding equal rights for men and women. The resolutions called specifically for the right of women to attend public schools, take part in public affairs, vote and enter professional occupations.
“Woman has too long rested satisfied in the circumscribed limits which corrupt customs and a perverted application of the Scriptures have marked out for her, and that it is time she should move in the enlarged sphere which her great Creator has assigned her.”
As stated as a declaration of women’s rights at the Seneca Falls Conference.
On November 7, 1893, during a general election, Colorado become the first state to implement an amendment allowing women the right to vote. The official vote count was 588 against and 913 for. It took a massive campaign and two failed attempts to finally allow Coloradoans equal suffrage.
The women’s rights movement had little success in the nineteenth century. But in the 1920’s, after seventy-two years of tireless struggle, women won the right to vote after the 19th amendment to the constitution was passed. In 1942 around 350,000 women served in the armed services. Many others participate in support services. Later, in the 1960’s women began to question their absence from the history texts. 1931 Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams stated her opinion on the matter,
 |
In 1987 what started as a week long celebration soon became a National Women’s History Month. A whole month devoted to women’s accomplishments throughout history. Now each year schools and workplaces around the nation sponsor events and programs to celebrate and better understand women’s heritage.
National Women’s History Program goal is to strongly emphasize women from all walks of life and the importance of positive role models. They want the knowledge of historical women to have a positive affect on the world today.
This year’s theme is women in art.
CSU-Pueblo clubs and organizations will be sponsoring different events throughout the month of March to celebrate National Women’s History Month. Of the many events that will be happening, a few of them include the following; On March 5 there will be a discussion of issues that women all over the world have faced and will face. March 6, the First-Year Center will be hosting a Women’s History Panel and a showing of If These Walls Could Talk. There will be a viewing of a movie and discussion that will focus on working mothers at the Multicultural Center. On March 12 the President Leadership Program will be bringing in Dr. Lloyd Lewan who will be discussing his book “Woman in the workplace: A Man’s Perspective.”
The Women Studies program here on campus is involved in the Women’s History Month. Becki Scola, Women’s Studies Coordinator commented, “I think that it is important to celebrate Women’s History Month in order to celebrate the achievements of women, highlight the contributions women have made to our societies, and study the impact that women have had on our world.”