#women’s history month

[thejitterbug]

HISTORY.

[nunyverse-scribe]

This women’s history month, remember those in Gaza who don’t have feminine hygiene products for their periods. Remember the pregnant mothers who got ran over by IDF tanks. Remember the women who have been killed and displaced, & IDF soldiers humiliate them further by brandishing their undergarments in posts and pictures.

Remember the women in Palestine this Women’s History Month.

[liberaljane]

💙 Empowered women empower ALL women. 💚

Digital illustration featuring a large group of women of all different races, ages, sexualities, abilities and gender expressions. There’s text that reads, ‘a woman is anyone who identifies as one.’

[usnatarchives]

The WAVES of Change: Women's Valiant Service in World War II 🌊

When the tides of World War II swelled, an unprecedented wave of women stepped forward to serve their country, becoming an integral part of the U.S. Navy through the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) program. This initiative not only marked a pivotal moment in military history but also set the stage for the transformation of women's roles in the armed forces and society at large. The WAVES program, initiated in 1942, was a beacon of change, showcasing the strength, skill, and patriotism of American women during a time of global turmoil.

The inception of WAVES was a response to the urgent need for additional military personnel during World War II. With many American men deployed overseas, the United States faced a shortage of skilled workers to support naval operations on the home front. The WAVES program was spearheaded by figures such as Lieutenant Commander Mildred H. McAfee, the first woman commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Under her leadership, WAVES members were trained in various specialties, including communications, intelligence, supply, medicine, and logistics, proving that women could perform with as much competence and dedication as their male counterparts.

The impact of the WAVES program extended far beyond the war effort. Throughout their service, WAVES members faced and overcame significant societal and institutional challenges. At the time, the idea of women serving in the military was met with skepticism and resistance; however, the exemplary service of the WAVES shattered stereotypes and demonstrated the invaluable contributions women could make in traditionally male-dominated fields. Their work during the war not only contributed significantly to the Allies' victory but also laid the groundwork for the integration of women into the regular armed forces.

The legacy of the WAVES program is a testament to the courage and determination of the women who served. Their contributions went largely unrecognized for many years, but the program's impact on military and gender norms has been profound. The WAVES paved the way for future generations of women in the military, demonstrating that service and sacrifice know no gender. Today, women serve in all branches of the U.S. military, in roles ranging from combat positions to high-ranking officers, thanks in no small part to the trail blazed by the WAVES.

The WAVES program was more than just a wartime necessity; it was a watershed moment in the history of women's rights and military service. The women of WAVES not only supported the United States during a critical period but also propelled forward the conversation about gender equality in the armed forces and beyond. Their legacy is a reminder of the strength and resilience of women who rise to the challenge, breaking barriers and making waves in pursuit of a better world.

Read more: https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2023/11/06/historic-staff-spotlight-eunice-whyte-navy-veteran-of-both-world-wars/

[valkyries-things]

IOANA RUDĂREASA // ABOLITIONIST

“She was a Wallachian Romani woman who fought for the abolition of Slavery in Romania from 1843 to 1856. Born into slavery, Rudareasa spent over a decade fighting for liberation from slavery through the Wallachian court. Her case illustrates the resistance of the Romanian boyars in prevent abolition and how Roma in the Romanian territories used all legal means available to obtain their freedom.”

[silverlovesmadi]

Happy international women’s (and girls) day to black women and black girls

[aardbeienmelk]

Yes, there is an international men’s day, no, you don't need to ask about it every year on international women’s day. No, it's not our task to spread awareness about it. Take your own action against the “issues” men face.

Women have fought for years to be seen as just as human as men. Women have been treated as subhuman, burned, raped, killed, passions taken away, forced to submit, getting sexualized, i could go on. Women’s history is awful, so many bright women washed away by history and their ideas and work claimed by men. It’s absolutely sickening what women have been through and are still going through.

We've come a long way, but we're not there yet, but at least we're making an effort. Sitting around and complaining that nobody pays attention to men’s day while doing nothing yourself won't get you anywhere. You’re just annoying and it’s solving nothing.

[uzuriartonline]

I’m thrilled to share the official artwork I contributed to the Women of Star Wars set in the Star Wars Card Trader App by Topps. These were such a blast to illustrate!

[silkdamask-blog]

Talk about #statementsleeves…. ☘️#DressmakersSeries: White silk bodice with green velvet trim, c1895, made by dressmaker B. Johnson, of St. Paul, Minnesota @mnhs

[sacramentohistorymuseum]

March is Women’s History Month and the first newspaper in the United States that was edited by and published for women was called “The Lily.” Published monthly in Seneca Falls, New York, the driving force behind The Lily was Amelia Bloomer.

While the newspaper initially focused on spreading ideals of temperance, it soon broadened its attention to include many women’s rights issues of the time including suffrage and clothing reform. Circulation of the paper grew as discussions of a certain clothing outfit were published and popularized by Amelia Bloomer called “bloomers.”

The distribution of The Lily rose from 500 printed copies per month to 4,000 per month because of the bloomers dress reform controversy. The newspaper moved to different locations and had different owners from 1853 until The Lily published its final edition on December 15, 1856.

In this video, Jared discusses the history of The Lily and letterpress prints “THE LILY” using 15 line wood type made by the Hamilton Wood Type Company in the 1880s. This was printed with black rubber base ink using our Washington hand press, which is a very similar press that would have been used to print the newspaper.

[jokerislandgirl32]

Happy International Women’s Day From The Wild Kratt’s Leading Ladies!

So, I thought up some inspirational quotes I thought these gals would say to encourage women, hope you all enjoy them and Happy International Women’s Day!

Aviva Corcovado

“I’d like to tell all the girls who dream of becoming an inventor to invent like no one is watching.”

Koki

“A determined, witty, and sarcastic woman with a passion for what she loves can accomplish anything.”

Donita Donata

“Fashion may be fleeting, but a strong, powerful woman is not.”

Paisley Paver

“No woman should ever be afraid to say, “‘don’t get in my way.’”

[classycookiexo]

[havenlmao]

Girls Night Pt 2 with Roxanne and Circus Baby

[peanutsoutofcontext]

Happy International Women’s Day From Peppermint Patty, one the best feminist icons of Peanuts 👸✊🩷

[valkyries-things]

KATARINA TAIKON // ACTIVIST

“She was a Swedish Romany activist, leader in the civil rights movement, writer and actor. She did not learn how to read or write until her teens. Her work as an actress allowed her to divorce her husband that she was married off to. She dedicated her life to improving conditions for Romani people in Sweden and throughout the world. Through her tireless work, debating, writing and talking to Swedish authorities, the Romani were granted the same right to housing and education as all other Swedes. In 1953, the 1914 ban on Romani immigration ended. This led to other Romani seeking refuge in Sweden, and the population, at first less than a thousand people, grew.”

[uwmspeccoll]

International Women's Day

In celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8), we’re showcasing one of writer, educator, intersectional feminist, poet, civil rights activist, and former New York public school librarian Audre Lorde’s (1934–1992) early collections of poetry. From a Land Where Other People Live was published in 1973 by Detroit’s groundbreaking Broadside Press. This independent press was founded in 1965 by poet, University of Detroit librarian, and Detroit’s first poet laureate Dudley Randall (1914-2000) with the mission to publish the leading African American poetry of the time in a well-designed format that was also "accessible to the widest possible audience." A comprehensive catalog of Broadside Press’s impressive roster of artists (including Gwendolyn Brooks, Nikki Giovanni, and Alice Walker, to name a few), titled Broadside Authors and Artists: An Illustrated Biographical Directory, was published in 1974 by educator and fellow University of Detroit librarian Leaonead Pack Drain-Bailey (1906-1983).  

Lorde described herself in an interview with Callaloo Literary Journal in 1990 as “a Black, Lesbian, Feminist, warrior, poet, mother doing [her] work”. She dedicated her life to “confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia.” From a Land Where Other People Live is a powerfully intimate expression of her personal struggles with identity and her deeply rooted critiques of social injustice. The work was nominated for the National Book Award for poetry in 1974, the same year that Broadside Press published New York Head Shop and Museum, another volume of Lorde’s poetry featured in our collection. You can find more information on her writings and on the organization inspired by her life and work by visiting The Audre Lorde Project.     

More posts on Broadside Press publications  

More Women’s History Month posts  

More International Women’s Day posts  

-- Ana, Special Collections Graduate Fieldworker