For many decades, women’s rights have been overlooked, undervalued and discouraged. Even after years of fighting for their rights, women continue to experience injustice and violence.
Having a month dedicated to women all around is extremely significant: it shines a light on their hard work and honors achievements that may have previously been overlooked.
“I believe having a month dedicated to solely women is necessary because as a society, we still forget to acknowledge women in ways we would never overlook a man,” sophomore Emma Cazares said. “To me it serves as a reminder and a way to encourage and empower women in a world where equality has still not quite been reached.”
Cazares is a firm believer of equality. She believes women in specific fields should be given more credit for their accomplishments.
Similar to Cazares, junior Rebecca Mejia advocates for a similar idea. Mejia is currently involved in beginning drawing as one of her electives this year and has learned about some inspiring women.
“One of the most influential women I know is Rosa Bonheur, a woman that despite the difficulties of being a woman during her time she managed to teach herself art and introduced animal paintings when art at the time was primely dominated by male and neoclassicism,” Mejia said.
Rosa Bonheur is an inspiring figure for many women today. She is recognized for being one of the first, most famous female artists in the 19th century.
During Bonheur’s time, she went against society’s expectations in many ways.
“She inspires me because when she was not allowed to study in the School of Arts, she still had the dedication to study and devote her life to painting and ultimately became independent and that showed me how despite difficulties, if you put the effort in, anything can be possible,” Mejia said.
Similar to Mejia, Cazares is also on the path of enrollment in AP 2D art next year. Having someone as significant as Bonheur is a great role model for students like these girls.
“I think it is important to recognize the significance of women’s contributions to history, and to always remember their story as they influenced the positions of where women are today, and inspire where we might go in the future,” Cazares said.
Comparably, another sophomore Benito Campos shares similar passion for gender equality.
“As someone of the opposite gender, I recognize the importance of dedicating a month to ladies to celebrate their achievements over the course of history,” Campos said.
All of these individuals emphasized the critical concept of equal representation.
Women all around have gone through a lot over the course of history. Thankfully, this social imbalance has shifted due to the effort of previous female leaders to better society for future generations.
Dedicating a specific month to female history reminds us of the efforts of women of the past that inspire us and advocate for a better future for all.
