March is designated as Women’s History Month for the purpose of remembering contributions and honoring the achievements of women throughout the decades. Around the world, women have made significant progress in various fields, whether it be in science, politics or sports. History has seen a multitude of powerful and inspirational women who have been pioneers for women’s rights and gender equality. There are numerous influential women that some associate with strength and progress.

“A strong woman that I’ve been admiring lately is Greta Thunberg,” junior Sarah Elobaid Ahmed said. “What resonates with me the most is that she has a massive influence on people around the world and she’s only 17. She doesn’t let her age or disability stop her from gaining international recognition for her climate change campaign.”

Similar to Thunberg who has impacted politics by inciting pivotal discussions, there are other women using their platforms and leadership to change history. 

“Right now, the strongest female leader in politics seems to be Nancy Pelosi,” junior Aidan Ganeshan said. “Her intellect and work ethic are the sole reasons for her success. She is the perfect case study for the unwarranted hatred that women in positions of power face, and she always resists attempts at belittling her status by reminding others of her authority and qualifications.”

The annual Women’s History Month serves as a reminder of how far women have come, and how far they have yet to go toward achieving equality and fair treatment. According to Pew Research Center, a record number of women are serving in Congress, recognition of women’s sports is increasing and more women are participating in science and engineering fields. However, recent moments in history illuminate that women still receive backlash for their input in their respective fields.

“It’s important to have a month dedicated to women’s achievements, because women are still overlooked for their contributions to society,” freshman Alice Cao-Dao said.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman to serve in Congress, is known for her fearlessness when tackling issues related to socio-economic injustice. Megan Rapinoe, a co-captain of the U.S. women’s national team, is an accomplished soccer player who also advocates for equal pay and greater attention for women in sports. Katie Bouman, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard, is a major participant in the discovery of the first-ever image of a black hole. According to Vox, all three women have been subjected to intense backlash despite the progress they have made.

“It’s not just about advancing the platform that women have; women should feel accepted and be treated as people with valid opinions and ideas,” Cao-Dao said. 

To commemorate Women’s History Month, read about women that inspire you, watch a movie or documentary on an influential woman or try writing a letter to a woman that has impacted your life. Make an effort to be conscious of the ways women have shaped history and how you can support those who are currently striving for progress and change.

“Women are still overshadowed by men in a lot of fields,” Ahmed said. “It’s necessary to empower girls to be confident and become leaders, and one of the ways to help with that is by celebrating the strength of all women.”