Discover the 1978 Womens Secret That Created Women’s History Month. Most people celebrate Women’s History Month without knowing how it began. It started in 1978 with a small group of determined people in Sonoma County, CA. They believed women’s stories mattered and deserved to be told and celebrated.
The powerful idea spread quickly across the United States. By 1987, from Womens History, the celebration officially expanded into what we now recognize as Women’s History Month. The first official International Women’s Day took place on March 19, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
A 1917 strike by Russian women for “Bread and Peace” (on the Julian calendar) became marked as March 8 on the Gregorian calendar. The United Nations officially recognized and celebrated March 8 in 1975 and formally recognized it in 1977.
My birthday is in March, so I wanted to celebrate with other women who had their birthday in March. Wormens History reminds us that many women’s contributions were overlooked for years. One enjoyable way to celebrate that progress is by discovering the remarkable women born during the month of March.
Explore Womens History and March Birthday Celebrations
This page introduces the history behind Women’s History Month and leads to discover the 1978 womens secret and the celebrations that follow.
Discover the 1978 Womens Secret That Created Women’s History Month. You are currently on this page and will discover the women’s secret.
You may even discover a birthday that surprises you.
- Celebrate Women’s History Month 1-15 Birthdays
- Esteemed Women’s March Birthdays 16-24
- Glorify March 25-28 Birthdays
- Honor Those Born 29-30 March
- Revere Birthday Date March 31
Discover the 1978 Womens Secret
In 1978 a small group of women in Santa Rosa, California had a problem to solve. They noticed that women were almost completely missing from the history books used in local schools. The stories being taught to children were almost entirely about men. Women’s contributions as pioneers, nurses, teachers, activists, mothers and workers had been either glossed over or left out entirely.
The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women decided to do something about it. They organized a Women’s History Week celebration during the week of March 8.
It was a date chosen to line up with International Women’s Day and has been recognized worldwide since 1911. However, these hidden contributions were still largely overlooked, even in 1978.
The response to the week’s celebration was overwhelming in Santa Rosa. Dozens of schools planned special programs. More than a hundred women came into classrooms to share their stories. An essay contest drew hundreds of entries from students. The week ended with a parade through downtown Santa Rosa.
That single week in Santa Rosa became the seed of what we now celebrate as Women’s History Month every March.
That Spark Became the Fire that Created Women’s History Month
By 1981, Congress passed a law authorizing the President to proclaim the week of March 7, 1982 as Women’s History Week. President Ronald Reagan did just that. He stated that American women of every race, background and belief had helped found and build the nation in ways both recorded and unrecorded.
As advocates discovered story after story, it became apparent that a week was never going to be able to show the diversity of American women and their achievements. So, in 1987 the National Women’s History Project (now known as the National Women’s History Alliance) petitioned Congress to expand the celebration to include the month of March.
Therefore, in March 1987 the celebration officially became Women’s History Month. By 1995, it became permanent practice for the president to issue an annual proclamation designating March as Women’s History Month. It was acknowledgement of all the women who had contributed to the development of their world.
President Clinton’s Contribution
The earliest proclamations of this celebration were carried out by Presidents Carter and Reagan. President Clinton, in 1999, went a step further. He created a national women’s history commission that worked to find what they called the “hidden women” in museums and archives. He wanted to discover all women whose stories existed but had never been properly told or preserved.
This commission recommended statewide women’s history programs and deeper integration of women’s history in educational programs. They also wanted to verify discovered stories that represented women from all walks of life, backgrounds and all corners of American history. It is now called the National Women’s History Alliance with national recognition.
Thanks to these efforts, Women’s History Month 2026 stands on 115 years of determined work by women who refuse to be forgotten.
Leading the Change and Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.
Above is this year’s 2026 theme. Communities, schools and organizations use this theme to guide celebrations and programs focus.
The theme intentionally broadens the definition of “sustainability” beyond environmentalism to include several key areas:
- Environmental Sustainability: Honoring women leading efforts to protect the planet and develop green technologies.
- Financial Sustainability: Recognizing those creating equitable economic systems and advancing economic justice.
- Community Resilience: Celebrating leaders building social justice and inclusive systems that support people and the planet.
- Intergenerational Equity: Emphasizing leadership succession and mentorship to prepare the next generation of changemakers.
This year’s theme resonates with me personally. Building financial sustainability for women and families is exactly what this site is about.
Although Women’s History Month started in the U.S., it is observed in Australia and Germany during March. The United Kingdom also celebrates with the Women of the World festivals in March. Canada celebrates in October with Persons Day. (A 1929 legal decision that recognized women as “persons” under the law.)
What This Means for You
Women’s History Month 2026 exists because the women of Sonoma County refused to let their stories disappear. The 2016 film Hidden Figures shows the incredible true story of three African-American women; Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson who worked at NASA during the Space Race. They also wanted a change and did something about it, too.
Our own women’s history is written in every week and every month. It is never-ending and is real, hard-won and worth celebrating. It’s a constant reminder that every contribution matters and no story should ever go untold.
The story of Women’s History Month reminds us that many women helped shape history in ways that are still being discovered. These March women’s birthdays lead with creativity, leadership and determination and continue to inspire others.
To continue the celebration, explore these pages highlighting women born throughout March.
- Celebrate Women’s History Month 1-15 Birthdays March begins with a remarkable group of women whose birthdays helped shape history, culture and leadership. These early March birthdays highlight courage, creativity and influence. They set the tone for a powerful month.
- Esteemed Women’s March Birthdays 16-24 Mid-March introduces another wave of unusual women whose lives left a lasting mark. Their achievements span science, leadership, literature and advocacy. Discover their stories from March 16 through 24 birthdays.
- Glorify March 25-28 Birthdays The final week of March begins with women known for bold ideas and lasting impact. These birthdays reveal a legacy of determination, talent and vision. Step into their stories dated March 25 through 28.
- Honor Those Born 29-30 March As the month nears its close, late-March birthdays continue the tradition of outstanding women who shaped their fields. Their accomplishments remind us that influence often grows from persistence and purpose. Meet the passionate women born March 29 and 30.
- Revere Birthday Date March 31 March ends with a single day that holds a powerful story. This woman helped shape history through her leadership, creativity and courage.
Since my own birthday falls in March, discovering these stories made the month even more meaningful. As you explore these pages, remember that Women’s History Month is not just a calendar event. It reminds us that recognition grows when people decide their stories deserve to be told.
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