Manhasset High School’s Feminism Club has a busy schedule for National Women’s History Month this March. National Women’s History Month is recognized annually to honor the accomplishments of trailblazing women in society over the year. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Stories”. 

The origins of this month’s meaning date back to the late 1960s. An activist who went by the name of Laura X organized a march on International Women’s Day in Berkeley, California. The march led to the creation of The Women’s History Research Center, a central archive for the feminist movements that swept the nation throughout the 1900s. They called for a National Women’s Week, which was established by President Nixon in 1980. By 1986, many states had decided to dedicate all of March to the Women’s Rights Movement. And so, in 1987, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9, designating the month of March as Women’s History Month.

During the first week of March, a short week, the Feminism Club will be giving out stickers in front of the auditorium during lunch periods. On March 8th, Harvard Weatherhead Center Global Sports Fellow and author Susie Petruccelli will be visiting the school in the Middle School Media Center for a speaker event. Just a week later, on March 15th, the club will be hosting a “Celebrating Women Who Tell Stories” themed trivia and bingo night in the High School Media Center. There will be no events during the week of March 20th as not to take time away from those celebrating Ramadan. Last but not least, they will be hosting a showing of Little Women on March 29th in the Black Box Theater. All events will take place at 6:30 P.M. 

So how can you celebrate National Women’s Month? On Wednesday, March 8th, all students are encouraged to wear purple, green, and white to show their support for International Women’s Day. 

The club was initially founded by students to promote intersectionality and equity. The mission statement of the club reads that they work “to spread awareness about feminism within the Manhasset community and dispel its misconceptions”. Now, they’ve even created an Instagram page, @manhassetfeminism, where they will be posting notifications about Women’s History Month and upcoming events.

At the end of the day, anyone can be a feminist. Manhasset’s Feminism Club meets on a bi-weekly basis on Wednesdays in the mornings in Room 177. Stop by and say hello!