Women's History Month

Rockland Community College marks Women’s History Month with a series of events during the month of March, celebrating women’s contributions, achievements and significant roles in shaping American culture and society. The events are free and open to the public.

The first organized Women’s Day took place in New York City on February 28, 1909. Later participants proposed that “a special Women’s Day” be organized annually. The first International Women’s Day was held in 1911. In the 1970s, the idea of a “Women’s History Week” that coincided with International Women’s Day was implemented. The observance of Women’s History Week spread across the county.

Subsequently, a consortium of women’s groups and historians lobbied Congress and President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first national Women’s History Week for March 2-8, 1980. The Women’s National History Project lobbied for a longer observation, and Congress passed a proclamation in 1987 establishing Women’s History Month.

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year as a focal point in the movement for women’s rights. It is a massive holiday around the world. Twenty-five countries made it a national holiday. In some places, it is a day of protest; in others, it is a day that celebrates womanhood.

The National Women’s History Alliance designates a yearly theme for Women’s History Month. The 2026 Women’s History Month theme established by The National Women’s History Alliance is titled: “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”