Greetings!
"A woman is like a tea bag—you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
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Happy Women's History Month! While I believe we should be celebrated every month, having a month dedicated to women is a good reason to focus on all our wonders and accomplishments. So, where do I start?
First, I'd like to honor all female writers, who were not as celebrated many years ago as they are today. For example, Enheduanna, the first known female writer and poet, was a high priestess in 2285-2250 BCE. Some of you might be familiar with the poet Sappo, who lived in the 7th century BCE.
Moving along into the 19th century, women's literature had been ignored or thought to be inferior to their male counterparts in a male-dominated society. Many of you are well-acquainted with Jane Austen, a famous novelist of the era. Austen saw modest financial success but was not made very famous by her novels during her lifetime.
In fact, it wasn't until 1929 when Virginia Woolf's book, A Room of One's Own, was published and seen as the driving force behind the women's writing movement. It was an enormous inspiration to other women. (Check out the anthology I review later in this newsletter, picturing Woolf on the cover.) Thankfully in the 20th century, women became even more prolific and accepted. Seventeen women have been awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize for literature since its inception, including Toni Morrison, Doris Lessing, Pearl Buck, and Louise Gluck.
Finally, this special month we celebrate began in the 1970s out of a week-long celebration of women's contributions to culture, history, and society. It was organized by four local women and teachers in Sonoma County, CA, in conjunction with the county's Commission on the Status of Women Education Task Force. It grew so much that a few years later word reached the White House, where President Jimmy Carter signed a presidential proclamation and declared the first week of March as National Women's History week during a 1980 address to the nation. President Carter continued his philanthropic efforts throughout his life. At 98 years old, he is now resting in hospice care at home in Georgia with his family. So many lives. So many legacies to celebrate. May his transition be peaceful and may all the women out there take a big bow--you are all amazing!
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