The contributions of women through the years have often gone unappreciated and forgotten but each year, in March, Women's History Month is a time for reflection, appreciation, and celebration. Women's History Month is an important time to recognize contributions both large and small that have changed our lives for the better.
What is Women's History Month?
Women's History Month in 2021 and beyond
Earlier this month, The White House delivered A Proclamation on Women's History. It highlights the women who have helped strengthen the country despite the horrors of this global pandemic. But it also recognizes the distinct challenges many women have faced during this difficult time. "Job losses due to COVID-19 have set women’s labor force participation back to its lowest point in more than 30 years — threatening the security and well-being of women and their families and imperiling the economic progress of our entire Nation," the White House proclamation states.
A disproportionally large number of women-owned businesses were forced to shut down during COVID-19. A Chamber of Commerce survey reported that "the number of female business owners who ranked their business's overall health as 'somewhat or very good' fell 13 points during the pandemic, from 60% in January to 47% in July 2020. A percentage that is in stark contrast to those of their male counterparts whose business health status fell a mere 5 points during the same time period."
This year in particular, as we begin to see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, there is much to rebuild. Women's History Month is a great time to uplift the women in our lives and support them. We need to work harder to support women-owned businesses in the coming months and years. As the trailblazers who came before us have done, we'll move forward to begin to heal and repair the damage of the past year. We'll do so with eyes on the future as we hold fond memories of those we've loved and lost.
