March is a special time where we reflect on and celebrate the amazing things women have done for history, culture, and society. This month is called Women’s History Month, and it’s a chance to look at why March was picked for this celebration. This year, the theme from The National Women’s History Alliance guides us: “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.”
Why March is National Women’s History Month
In honor of International Women’s Day which was established on March 8, 1911, March has been the month chosen for Women’s History Month. In the United States, we’ve been celebrating Women’s History Month since 1987. March is an important time to remember the struggles women faced, the amazing things they achieved, and how far they’ve come. It’s a time to think about making the world a more fair and equal place for all women.
Theme of Women’s History Month 2024
This year’s theme is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” It’s all about honoring women across the country who understand that we need to get rid of unfair treatment and discrimination from our lives and places like schools and workplaces. This theme asks us to do something about it, to work towards a future where everyone has an equal chance no matter their gender.
Zazzle Creators Honoring Women’s History Month
We are proud to have established a community where our Independent Creators use their creative process to spread awareness and show support for other communities.
To honor Women’s History Month, we asked our Zazzle Creators to help us spotlight how women have helped them in their life:
“Are there specific people, historical events or movements that have inspired you?”
My mother, she raised four of us kids in a tiny poor village in Russia. At times we had zero income, no electricity or running water, she did everything by hand, grew our own food, she had a hard life, but never complained, she moved forward and she always inspired me to strive for something better in life and to stay positive no matter how hard things are.
My mother inspires me by being such a strong willed woman. She has been through so much in her life, yet she still works as hard as she can and is always there for her family. Having her as a model for a mother as helped me in raising my daughter.
As a female cross country cyclist I’m inspired by other women who traveled solo on their bicycles during a time when this was more unusual than it is today. Examples are Ruth Orkin and Annie Cohen Kopchovsky.
“Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel… the picture of freedom, untrammelled.” – Susan B. Anthony
Yes, my sister helped me through tough times when I was struggling with low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and depression as a teenager.
I remember growing up struggling with my self-esteem issues, lack of confidence, and depression as a teenager. My sister played a huge role in taking care of me and being my emotional support. I almost didn’t graduate high school or go to college, but she helped me realize how important it was to continue my education. She encouraged me to be ambitious and pursue my big dreams. In the end, I graduated high school and also graduated college with first honors. I achieved my dream of becoming a flight attendant with a world-leading airline, traveled around the world in my 30s, and retired in my 40s. Now, I’m living my other dream of spreading messages of self-esteem, love, and self-confidence, and appreciating those who supported me. Without realizing the importance of self-esteem, I wouldn’t have been able to believe in myself and pursue anything.
Frida Kahlo was a huge inspiration for me. I learned about her in high school, and immediately felt a kinship with her. She was my first exposure to the amazing power of a disabled artist, the strength of feminism, and courage of portraying yourself completely honestly, including body hair, wounds, nudity and vulnerability. I am glad that people everywhere know her name and face now, and she is respected and admired for her contributions to the art world.
I just want to say that I want to give my love and support to all the different expressions of gender that intersect with women during this month. Anyone assigned female at birth, or who transition to female, or are genderfluid. Anyone who calls themself demigirl, or a lesbian butch, or are otherwise aligned with the term female, I see you, and if you want to feel included in this time of year, claim it! There are no gender police here. Big love to you all!
I grew up in the eighties in South Africa. The women of the ANC Women’s League at the time, and others like the Black Sash movement, the Abortion Reform Action Group and the La Leche League, all inspired my goals and objectives. They gave me the courage of my convictions and my life became political. I was young, at art school in the eighties. There was a lot of freedom of association then, but we were also watched like hawks by the security police, to ensure that our revolutionary ideas did not gain traction. However the revolution did gain traction and today we have a democracy and one of the finest constitutions in the world. I’m now middle aged and my art is decorative as opposed to political. I hope to make the hearts of women around the world, sing with joy without having to constantly worry about societal pressures and political aspirations.
Yes, I have 3 badass women around me. They raised me. There was time when everyone close to them left them just because they wanted to do something on their own. They never gave up. As a child I was inspired by them that donot be aftraid to be your authentic self. Currentlly I have one badass woman around me i.e my boss. The way she speaks her mind, Handles difficult situation and people is inspiring. We need more women like them in our society.
The people that have truly inspired me are in my very own family. My grandmother was a strong Chilean woman who was one step ahead of the women in her generation. She was one of the first women to wear a swimsuit here in Viña del Mar, Chile. She was the only woman to swim daily from one point on the coast to another for exercise. She was one of the first ladies to own and ride a bike daily. Talk about independence! She did what she loved and did not let what others thought about her in town dissuade her! My grandmother has been a huge inspiration to me all my life.
They have always been women in the forefront leading change…Fannie Lou Hammer, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman and so many other nameless and faceless that sacrifice for us to have the freedoms we enjoy today.
My mother, a devoted mathematics teacher, inspired countless students in diverse cities and schools. Even in retirement, her enduring connections with former students remain strong, as they remember her not just as a teacher but as a compassionate guide imparting valuable life lessons.
Her journey highlights the impactful role of women in education, with each reunion post-retirement reigniting her pride in the transformative power of teaching.
Lucille Ball, Maya Angelou, Madam C.J Walker to name a few were inspirational. Lucille Ball was powerful when women were often pushed to the background. Ms. Angelou spoke powerful words, was a powerful writer. MCJW, defied the odds of her circumstances and changes the business of hair forever. They were all creative and powerful women.
There are many radiant women who have inspired me over the years and shaped me into the woman I am today. As someone from Tennessee who cares a ton about people in need, Dolly Parton’s music, beauty, acting, and charity have all taught me so much. As a biracial woman, Zendaya was always, and still is, an icon to me in fashion, acting, kindness, and building up my confidence when I would always see her on TV growing up.
And most of all, my mama! She was a single mother in her 20’s who left an abusive relationship when I was a baby so that my siblings and I wouldn’t grow up around that. She was brave enough to leave and raise 3 crazy kids under 5 years old by herself. And we still had an amazing childhood because she loves us so much- whenever she wasn’t working we would go camping or on hikes or walking around the flea market. Many women have inspired me and continue to do so to this day, but no person could ever mean more to me than my mama.
Michelle Obama and Sarah Jakes Roberts have inspired me.
My mother passed from Covid in 2022 but for my entire life she has been my inspiration for my art! She was a painter and created the most beautiful images of women and people of color as well as scenes from the country. I dream to be half the artist she is!
In addition to those incredible words from our Creators, we’d like to also give a special call out to the following women who have inspired and continue to inspires us:
5 Ways to Honor Women’s History Month
Celebrating Women’s History Month isn’t just about saying women are great; it’s about doing things to show we care. Here are five important ways you can do that in 2024:
- Stay Informed:
- Read Diverse Voices: Learn more about different women’s experiences by reading books and articles written by women from various backgrounds.
- Attend Virtual Events: Join online events that talk about women’s history. You can hear interesting discussions and stories.
- Acknowledge Everyday Heroes:
- Create a Gratitude List: Make a list of women who have made a positive impact on your life. You can thank them with a note, a shoutout on social media, or a simple call.
- Highlight Local Influencers: Talk about and support local women who are making a difference in your community, like artists, activists, or business owners.
- Volunteer for Change:
- Explore Volunteering Opportunities: Find groups that help women and gender equality. Volunteer your time to make a real difference.
- Mentorship Programs: Help and guide young women in their school and career journeys.
- Empower Women-Owned Businesses:
- Discover Women-Owned Brands: Support businesses owned by women, from clothes and makeup to tech and food. Your support helps them succeed and breaks down unfair barriers.
- Share Recommendations: Tell others about your favorite things from women-owned businesses on social media or in your community.
- Speak Out Against Injustice:
- Educate Others: Share facts about unfair treatment and discrimination against women. Start conversations about why it’s important to treat everyone equally.
- Support Advocacy Initiatives: Stand up for organizations fighting against unfair treatment and discrimination. Join campaigns to make our society safer and more equal for everyone.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month in 2024, let’s remember why March is so important. The theme encourages us to actively make the world more fair and equal. By honoring what women have done, we aren’t just celebrating the past; we’re working towards a better future where everyone, no matter their gender, is valued, respected, and given the same chances to succeed.
Nicole is our Content Strategist. She enjoys long walks to Taco Bell, rollerblading into the sunset, and eating Reese’s Cups for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Find her writing about iPhone cases, holiday card messaging and even music festival tips!
