WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

The theme for Women's History Month 2012 selected by the National Women's History Project (NWHP) is Women's Education - Women's Empowerment. The fight to learn was a valiant struggle waged by many tenacious women-across years and across cultures-in our country. Pioneers of secondary education for young women faced arguments from physicians and other "experts" who claimed either that females were incapable of intellectual development equal to men, or that they would be harmed by striving for it. Women's supposed intellectual and moral weakness was also used to argue against coeducation, which would surely be an assault on purity and femininity. The equal opportunity to learn, taken for granted by most young women today, owes much to Title IX of the Education Codes of the Higher Education Act Amendments. This legislation, passed in 1972 and enacted in 1977, prohibited gender discrimination by federally funded institutions. It has become the primary tool for women's fuller participation in all aspects of education from scholarships, to facilities, to classes formerly closed to women. Indeed, it transformed the educational landscape of the United States within the span of a generation. To read more about the NHWP visit www.nwhp.org/whm/.

Since 1993, the Lansdale AAUW branch has assisted local schools in celebrating National Women's History Month by donating materials to be displayed and utilized during March to raise student's awareness of women's contributions to history and their communities. Materials provided to date have totaled over $5,800. For 2012, the Lansdale AAUW is donating the following books to the North Penn District schools:

  • A.M. Kulp, Bridle Path, General Nash, Gwyn Nor, Gwynedd Square, Hatfield, Inglewood, Knapp, Montgomery, North Wales, Oak Park, Walton Farm and York Avenue Elementary Schools - Women Explorers by Julie Cummins - At a time when women were expected to stay at home, marry, and raise children, these women traveled deep into the wilderness, scaled daunting mountains, lived among headhunters, and didn't let anyone stop them from following their dreams. This book describes the accomplishments of ten women explorers from the 1870s to the 1970s who made contributions to science, geography, history, and cultural understanding and whose have been overlooked for far too long.
  • Pennbrook, Penndale and Pennfield Middle Schools - Women Heroes of World Word II by Kathryn J. Atwood - Twenty-six engaging and suspense filled stories unfold from across Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, and the United States, providing an inspiring reminder of women and girls' refusal to sit on the sidelines around the world and throughout history.
  • North Penn High School - No Excuses: Nine Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power by Gloria Feldt - Through interviews, historical perspective, and anecdotes, the author examines why barriers to gender equality still exist in American society and discusses how to break them down through organized efforts using movement-building principles. Feldt employs a no-nonsense, tough-love point of view to expose the internal and external roadblocks holding women back, but she doesn't place blame; rather, she provides inspiration, hope, and courage - as well as concrete "power tools" to aid women in securing equality and justice for themselves - articulated with personal warmth and humor.

Celebrate Women Throughout the Year!

International Women's Day - March 8th

The United Nation's theme for International Women's Day 2012 is: Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty. Gender equality and the empowerment of women are gaining ground worldwide. There are more women Heads of State or Government than ever, and the highest proportion of women serving as Government ministers. Women are exercising ever greater influence in business. More girls are going to school, and are growing up healthier and better equipped to realize their potential. Despite this momentum, there is a long way to go before women and girls can be said to enjoy the fundamental rights, freedom and dignity that are their birthright and that will guarantee their well-being. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the world's rural areas. Rural women and girls - to whom this year's International Women's Day is devoted - make up one quarter of the global population, yet routinely figure at the bottom of every economic, social and political indicator, from income and education to health to participation in decision-making.

International Women's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day on 8 March. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. In adopting its resolution, the General Assembly recognized the role of women in peace efforts and development and urged an end to discrimination and an increase of support for women's full and equal participation.

Over the years, the UN and its technical agencies have promoted the participation of women as equal partners with men in achieving sustainable development, peace, security, and full respect for human rights. The empowerment of women continues to be a central feature of the UN's efforts to address social, economic and political challenges across the globe. For additional information go to www.InternationalWomensDay.com.

List of donation selections from this and previous years and other strong female books:
Purchases from Amazon via these links benefit AAUW.

Title Author Description Buy from Amazon
Women Explorers Julia Cummins Ages 9 and up
Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue Kathryn J. Atwood Ages 12 and up
No Excuses: Nine Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power Gloria Feldt
Fearless Female Journalists Joy Crysdale Ages 9-12
Belva Lockwood: Equal Rights Pioneer Jill Norgren Ages 9-12
I Am an Emotional Creature Eve Ensler
Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan Jeanette Winter Ages 9-12
Profiles in Mathematics: Sophie Germain Stephen Ornes Ages 9-12
Women Making America Heidi Hemming and Julie Savage
I'll Pass For Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War Anita Silvey This compelling book spotlights Union and Confederate women who fought on the battlefields.
Her Story: A Timeline of the Women Who Changed America Charlotte S. Waisman and Jill S. Tietjen A vivid documentation of the breadth and diversity of American women's achievements throughout U.S. history.
Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq Kirsten Holmstedt Band of Sisters presents a dozen groundbreaking and often heart-wrenching stories of American women in combat in Iraq
What to Do About Alice?: How Alice Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove her Father Teddy Crazy! Barbara Kerley A beautifully illustrated book about Theodore Roosevelt's irrepressible oldest child. It outlines Alice Roosevelt's childhood and her outrageous hijinks as a tomboy, as well as the loving relationship she enjoyed with her renowned father. Prose and pictures spring across the pages to celebrate a maverick American heroine.
Ladies First: 40 Daring American Women Who Were Second to None Elizabeth Cody Kimmel Ladies First introduces young readers to 40 American women of achievement who were first in their field. A full-page portrait begins each informative three-page profile. The life stories of these women are as inspiring as they are diverse.
Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History Laurel Thatcher Ulrich Ulrich focuses on three accomplished women who did not behave according to the standards of their times - Christine de Pizan, a fourteenth century author, suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and twentieth century novelist Virginia Woolf. They worked in entirely different settings; however, they disturbingly encountered the same problems facing women.
Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor Emily Arnold McCully The story of the first woman to receive a U.S. patent for designing a machine to make flat-bottomed, paper bags.
Factory Girl Barbara Greenwood A recreation of the life of working children in North American cities in the early part of the twentieth century and the impact that one girl can make.
Madame Secretary: A Memoir Madeleine Albright The memoirs of Madeleine Albright, the highest ranking woman in the history of U.S. government. During the eight years of the Clinton administration, Albright served as U.N. ambassador and then as Secretary of State.
Changing Our World: True Stories of Women Engineers Sybil E. Hatch Celebrates the contributions of women engineers to every aspect of modern life.
A is for Abigail Lynne Cheney
In Her Footsteps: 101 Remarkable Black Women from the Queen of Sheba to Queen Latifah Annette Madden
100 Women Who Shaped World History Gail Meyer Rolka
Young Women of Achievement: A Resource for Girls in Science, Math and Technology Frances A. Karnes and Kristen R. Stephens
The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History edited by Wilma Mankiller, Gwendolyn Mink, Marysa Navarro, Barbara Smith, and Gloria Steinem
Remember the Ladies Cheryl Harness A beautiful timeline of 100 famous women who made important contributions to this country since its founding. Includes Alice Paul, Grace Hopper, Mary McLeod Bethune, and others girls may not know.Ages 6 - 14.
Madame President Catherine Thimmish An awesome new book in which a girl decides she wants to be President and is encouraged instead to be a senator, a president's wife,etc For each suggestion, it tells about women from history. Guess who doesn't give up her dream?! Ages 8 - 14.
Girl's Guide to Life Catherine Dee An indispensable manual for girls from 10 to 14.Fun,easy-to-read advice on everything from the media to sports to the beauty myth.
Best of Girls to the Rescue Bruce Lansky Fabulous collection of 26 fairy tales and folk tales from around the world where GIRLS are the heroes! Third grade reading level chapter book, good for ages 6 to 12.
I Like Me Nancy Carlson Simple, but powerful, self esteem book about a pig who likes herself and takes charge of her life. Ages 2 - 6.
Stephanie's Ponytail Robert Munsch Stephanie wears her hair the way she wants to, despite peer pressure.Very funny. Ages 4 - 8.
Cinder Edna Ellen Jackson Cinder Edna has the same things happen to her as the helpless Cinderella, but she takes charge of her life! Ages 4 - 8.