Women’s History Month

This annual observance recognizes and honors the significant contributions women have made to society. Let’s celebrate three individuals whose noteworthy achievements have made a positive impact on the world.

March: A month of reflection on the contributions of women

In the United States, March is officially recognized as Women’s History Month, highlighting the significant contributions and achievements of women throughout time. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation for National Women’s History Week. Following that, Congress passed annual joint resolutions requesting the President to proclaim a week in March as Women’s History Week. Petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, in 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9 (P.L. 100-9) to officially designate March of that year as Women’s History Month. In part, it reads:

“Whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historical contributions to the growth and strength of the Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways…”

Between 1988 and 1994, Congress continued to pass additional resolutions authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Today, Presidents continue to issue annual proclamations declaring March as Women’s History Month.

2026 Presidential Message

The White House shares Trump’s 2026 Presidential Message on Women’s History Month including the following:

“For 250 years – from the diligence of Betsy Ross, the faith of Katharine Drexel, and the courage of Amelia Earhart to the ingenuity of Annie Oakley, the selflessness of Clara Barton, and the timeless integrity of Harper Lee – strong women have brought our Nation to countless new heights and moments of triumph. To this day, across every industry, women are champions of success, trailblazers in their fields, and models in their homes. Whether they serve our Nation as service members, government leaders, entrepreneurs, or mothers, every devoted woman guides our Nation’s strength, prosperity, and way of life.”

Inspiring Women in History

Women who contribute meaningfully to science, mathematics, the arts, politics, as well as social, religious, or humanitarian fields merit appropriate recognition and appreciation. The three women highlighted below serve as enduring examples of females whose achievements continue to inspire future generations and warrant our deepest respect.

1. Clara Barton (1821-1912) remains one of the most honored women in American history. Known as the visionary leader and founder of the American Red Cross, Barton created a legacy of volunteerism and service never to be forgotten. Born in 1821 in Oxford, Massachusetts, Barton began an early career in teaching and moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked at the U.S. Patent Office. Of her accolades, she was one of the first women to work for the federal government. During the Civil War, despite dangers, she provided nursing care and supplies to soldiers and earned the title “Angel of the Battlefield.” Per American Red Cross, “When the war ended, Clara found new ways to help the military. With permission from President Lincoln, she opened the Office of Missing Soldiers, helping to reconnect more than 20,000 with their families.” Inspired by her volunteer work with the International Committee of the Red Cross, which provided civilian relief during the Franco-Prussian War, she brought the Red Cross Movement to America. In 1881 she founded the American Red Cross. By the next year, the U.S. ratified the Geneva Conventions, laws to protect war-wounded and civilians in conflict zones. Barton shared, “You must never think of anything except the need, and how to meet it.” She proudly served as Red Cross President for 23 years and her legacy lives on to this very day.
2. Blessed Mother Teresa (1910-1997) forged a path of humanitarian service that is unparalleled anywhere in the world. Born in 1910 in North Macedonia, she lived most of her life in India. However, she greatly influenced all the world – including people living in the United States – through her unwavering devotion to God, immense charitable work, and deep love of the preborn, orphans, the disabled, the poor, the sick, the dying, and the elderly, society’s most vulnerable people. Named Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, the daughter of an Albanian grocer, she became a Roman Catholic Nun and founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity. After studying nursing, she moved to the slums of Calcutta where she founded her order in 1950 to serve the poor, sick, and dying. She was awarded the Padma Shri (Lord of the Lotus) for her services to the people of India. And, in 1971, Pope Paul VI awarded her the first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize. Eight years later, she received the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite her own heart condition, she served the poor and the sick during her lifetime. She expressed, “We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.” She also shared, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” Pope Francis declared Mother Teresa a saint on September 4, 2016. Per Britannica, she was beatified on October 19, 2003, reaching the ranks of the blessed in the shortest time in the church’s history. Her selfless acts of service to the poor and needy demonstrate that she was a compassionate, faithful, kind, humble, and truly remarkable woman.
3. Condoleezza Rice (1954 to present) is an excellent role model who served as the first female Black Secretary of State and represents a prominent voice in foreign policy and conservatism. At the time of her appointment as Secretary of State, she was the highest-ranking woman in the history of the United States to be in the presidential line of succession. Born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1954, she earned a bachelor’s degree (1974) and later a doctorate from the University of Denver (1981), and her master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame (1975). Here are some highlights of her service: The highly educated Rice joined the faculty of Stanford University in 1981. In 1986, she served as an assistant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on nuclear strategy. During the administration of President George H.W. Bush, she was director then Senior Director of Soviet and Eastern European Affairs and was a special assistant to the president for National Security Affairs on the president’s National Security Council.  In 1991, Rice returned to Stanford and began a six-year tenure as provost. She would go on to become foreign policy advisor to George W. Bush and was the first woman to be named head of the National Security Council. During the 9-11 attacks, Rice was an important advisor to the president and supported U.S.-led attacks on terrorists and Taliban targets in Afghanistan in 2001. In 2005, she succeeded Colin Powell as Secretary of State and helped negotiate an end to Israel’s occupation of the Gaza Strip. Per Britannica, “She also persuaded North Korea to return to talks amid dismantling that country’s nuclear weapons programs.” Rice led an effort to promote democracy and broker peace in the Middle East and promoted sanctions against Iran after the country failed to halt its nuclear growth. After leaving office in 2009, she returned to Stanford University and became director of the Hoover Institution in 2020. Rice is also a gifted pianist, author, polyglot, avid sports fan and was one of the first two women admitted as members of Augusta National Golf Club. She shares, “Great leaders never accept the world as it was and always work for the world as it should be.”

Inspiring Women in History

Women’s History Month recognizes the significant contributions of females to society. Clara Barton, Mother Teresa, and Condoleezza Rice are just a few examples of women whose dedication to service has inspired others to lead and improve the world. Their achievements show that women can make significant contributions and serve as important examples for future generations.

Disclosure: This article is for general informational purposes only.