A student’s view: In Praise of Women.
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he month of March was Women’s History Month, we celebrated Mother’s Day and women have been an important piece of society for such a long time whether they are gentle mothers or work in rough labor outside of the house. Important women, such as Ida B. Wells and Susan B. Anthony have changed the way society sees women.
March 8 was International Women’s Day and May 13 was Mother’s Day. The aforementioned is a day dedicated to all women around the world and being proud to be a woman in a male dominated society and the latter is the acknowledgement of the importance of motherhood, whether it is biological or not. It really seems apparent, however, that women should be appreciated for their hard work year-round. I interviewed the women of Central Union High School to get their opinions on womanhood.
Womanhood is very unique but different across different women. Womanhood in general requires one thing: to identify as a woman. There are multiple types of women in the world that March is dedicated to praising: women of color, LGBT+ women, transgender women, women of various religions, and so much more. There are multiple women who have helped society become what it is today.
Ida B. Wells led an anti-lynching movement in New York. Wells was a famous activist who would stand up for colored people’s rights. Susan B. Anthony is a very well known women’s rights activist and abolitionist. She fought against slavery and for the right to vote. Her dream would come true later on June 4, 1919 when women finally received the right to vote.
AVID and Journalism teacher, Ms. Rodriguez, gave some insight on what she believes being a woman means to her. Rodriguez says being a woman means she belongs to a remarkable gender identity due to how women have a lot more power than most people are willing to admit.
She believes women are wired differently in comparison to men. By that, she means that women tend to view the world in a different way and respond to certain situations with a different perspective than others.
Women can also tend to be more collaborative in her viewpoint and it is important that this voice is heard when making policy that affects our social well-being.
This point can be shown as true if you look at the recent Women’s March that took place back in January. Rodriguez feels like women could be more recognized in history. When asked if she can recall a male and female inventor, she named Thomas Edison.
She meant to name Ada Lovelace but couldn’t recall her name on the spot but she did mention the myriad of women writers who had to change their names and write as men to be published, not to mention women who dressed as men to fight in wars and most recently the women behind getting the Arab Spring going, Rodriguez wrote the curriculum to accompany the movie, “Trials of Spring” that recounts these events.
I also got in touch with CUHS senior Fabiola Rojas. Fabiola believes being a woman means she has power and is in control of herself.
She believes as a woman, she does not have to be told what to do and she can succeed in a way she wants to. She feels strong and is very proud to be a woman because women have amazing characteristics that are unique to them.
“Historically, women have made many discoveries compared to men,” Fabiola said.
For generations, women have prospered and grown and been able to show everyone they are worthy to be however they want in her viewpoint. Fabiola is more positive and believes women have been recognized in history for their efforts. When asked to name a male and female scientist, she named Bill Nye and Marie Curie.
Overall, women have made many changes throughout history and it is very clear many people respect women more and more in comparison to the birth of America. Women have more rights and more respect than ever before. The fight isn’t over yet. One month to dedicate for women really isn’t enough to praise every woman who has changed our society for the better.
Praise for women year round will help get the message across that women can move forward, progress, get educated or not, but should have a voice in their future. Women, we’re not going anywhere and we’re not going back.