In 1980, Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation in recognition of women’s history; the observance was one week long. In 1987, Congress passed a law authorizing the President to designate the month of March as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, every U.S. president has issued an annual proclamation in the month of March. During Women’s History Month, we honor the countless contributions of women to American history.
The theme for 2024 is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” The National Women’s History Alliance selected this theme to ”recognize women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions."