Women’s History Month facts are educational insights that highlight the contributions and milestones of women throughout history. These facts refer to historical firsts, economic statistics, and the origins of the month-long celebration designed for students in grades PreK–12. Worksheetzone provides these resources to ensure educators can celebrate female achievement while building the historical literacy and social awareness required for academic success.
About Women’s History Month
What do you know about Women’s History Month?
Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California, in 1978. It was later recognized nationally by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 and officially designated by Congress in 1987. According to The Library of Congress, this month serves to commemorate and encourage the study of the often-overlooked role of women in American history.
The Month is an annual event held every March in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia,… to honor the contributions and achievements of women throughout history, culture, and society.
80+ Women’s History Month Facts
- The first National Women’s History Day was celebrated in New York City in 1909.
- In 1869, Wyoming Territory became the first place to grant women the right to vote.
- In 1980, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week.
- In March 1987, Congress officially designated March as Women’s History Month.
- Every Women’s History Month has an official theme.
- Native American women gained citizenship and voting rights in 1924, Asian immigrant women in 1952, Black women in 1965, and non-English-speaking women in 1975 through the expansion of the Voting Rights Act.
- Women of all races were not legally able to vote until 1965.
- Marie Curie was the first woman and the only woman to win two Nobel Prizes.
- Edith Wharton became the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1921.
- More women than men hold college degrees.Women continue to outpace men in postsecondary education. In 2021, 59% of women pursued education beyond high school, compared to 50% of men, according to the Education Data Initiative.
- In 2022, women earned 82% of what men earned, down from 84% in 2020, according to Pew Research Center.
- Women of color face even larger pay gaps. In 2022, Black women earned 70 cents and Latina women earned 65 cents for every dollar earned by men, while Asian women earned 93 cents, according to Pew Research Center.
- Mothers are less likely to be hired than women without children. Research shows that mothers face a “motherhood penalty,” earning less after having children, while men often experience a “fatherhood bonus,” earning more after becoming fathers.
- Women make up 14% of active-duty military members (23% of officers in the U.S. Coast Guard, 21% in the Air Force, 19% in both the Navy and the Army, and 8% in the Marine Corps.
- Women were not allowed to serve in combat roles until January 2013.
- In 2021, women made up 57.8% of the total labor force. Nearly one million women reentered the workforce in 2021, compared to 666,000 men. Women held 3.3 million of the net new jobs added to the economy.
- In 2022, women represented 50.7% of the U.S. workforce with a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to Pew Research Center.
- Women own less than 20% of the world’s land. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, land ownership remains male-dominated, and in many regions, women are still restricted from owning land due to legal and social barriers.
- Kamala Harris is the first female Vice President and the first woman of color to hold the office.
- The first female governor in the United States was Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming. She assumed office in 1924 after her husband’s death, narrowly earning the distinction, as Miriam “Ma” Ferguson became governor of Texas just 16 days later.
- Women were unable to have their own credit cards until 1974.
- The Equal Pay Act, passed by Congress in 1963, was the first federal law to prohibit gender-based pay discrimination.
- American Revolutionary hero Sybil Ludington is believed to have ridden twice as far as Paul Revere. She reportedly traveled 40 miles overnight to warn the militia after the British burned Danbury, Connecticut.
- Sally Ride became the first woman to travel into space in 1983.
- Rita Moreno was the first Latina to achieve EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.
- Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were key figures in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
- Jane Addams is remembered as a pioneering American social reformer. She founded Hull House, the Women’s Peace Party, and the International Congress of Women, and later received the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Anna May Wong was the first Asian American woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Junko Tabei became the first woman to summit Mount Everest and the first woman to complete the Seven Summits.
- Clara Barton, known as the “Angel of the Battlefield,” served as a nurse during the American Civil War and founded the American Red Cross.
- Hillary Clinton became the first woman to receive a major party’s nomination for U.S. president in 2016.
- Rosa Parks played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. Her courage earned her the titles “the First Lady of Civil Rights” and “the Mother of the Freedom Movement.”
- British chemist Rosalind Franklin provided the crucial evidence that revealed the true structure of DNA.
- Aretha Franklin was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- Sonia Sotomayor became the first Latina justice on the U.S. Supreme Court in 2009.
- Kamala Harris became the first woman and the first woman of color to serve as Vice President of the United States.
- Florence Griffith Joyner is widely regarded as the fastest woman of all time, with her 1988 world records in the 100m and 200m still standing.
- Donyale Luna was the first Black supermodel and the first African American woman to appear on the cover of British Vogue in 1966.
- Hattie McDaniel was the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for her role in Gone with the Wind.
- Wilma Mankiller became the first woman to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
- Amanda Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet in 2021, performing “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
- Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979.
- Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1916.
- Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations were critical to John Glenn’s orbital flight and the Apollo 11 moon landing.
- Ibtihaj Muhammad became the first Muslim woman to represent the United States at the Olympics in 2016 and the first Olympian to compete wearing a hijab.
- With 28 awards, Beyoncé holds the record for the most Grammy Awards in history.
- Harriet Tubman became the first woman to lead an armed military operation in the United States, known as the Combahee River Raid.
- Gertrude Ederle was the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1926.
- Obiageli Ezekwesili is a Nigerian humanitarian and education activist, former World Bank vice president for Africa, and co-founder of Transparency International.
- Madam C.J. Walker is widely recognized as America’s first self-made female millionaire, thanks to her haircare products for Black women.
- Susan B. Anthony was the first woman depicted on a U.S. coin, appearing on the U.S. dollar coin.
- Kathy Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967, despite women being barred from the race at the time.
- Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981.
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined the Court in 1993, more than a decade later.
- Barbra Streisand became the first woman to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Director.
- Dr. Mae Jemison became the first Black woman to travel into space.
- Frida Kahlo was the first Mexican artist to have her work displayed at the Louvre Museum.
- Jessica Watson became the youngest person to sail solo around the world without assistance in 2010.
- Nancy Pelosi became the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, first taking office in 2007.
- Serena Williams is the first and only tennis player to achieve a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles.
- Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani education activist and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history.
- Jodie Foster became the first openly LGBTQ woman known to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.
- Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in 1928.
- Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 7, 2022, and sworn in on June 30, 2022.
- Mary Anderson invented the windshield wiper for automobiles.
- Madeleine Albright became the first female U.S. Secretary of State.
- Halle Berry became the first African American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2001.
- In 1972, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black American woman to run for president of the United States.
- Antonia Novello became the first woman to serve as U.S. Surgeon General.
- Carol Moseley Braun became the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
- Katharine Graham became the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company, The Washington Post.
- Greta Thunberg is a Swedish climate activist who has led a global youth movement against climate change.
- Edith Wharton became the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for her novel The Age of Innocence.
- Actress Hedy Lamarr is credited with inventing the technology behind modern Wi-Fi.
- Janet Guthrie became the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500 in 1977.
- Talk show host Oprah Winfrey became the first Black female billionaire.
- Josephine Cochrane invented the first automatic dishwasher.
- Nancy Johnson invented the hand-cranked ice cream maker in 1843, a design still used today.
- South Korean figure skater Yuna Kim became the first woman to win all four major international skating titles: the Winter Olympics, World Championships, Four Continents Championships, and the ISU Grand Prix.
- Author Toni Morrison became the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
- Amelia Boynton became the first Black woman in Alabama to run for Congress and the first woman of any race to run as a Democratic candidate in the state.
- In 1991, Ann Tsukamoto successfully identified and isolated human stem cells, a breakthrough critical to advances in medical treatments such as leukemia therapy.
- Queen Liliʻuokalani was the first woman to rule the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and its first reigning queen.
- Kalpana Chawla became the first Indian-born woman to travel into space.
- Long before computers existed, Ada Lovelace developed the concept of a computer programming language.
- Sally Priesand became the first female rabbi in the United States in 1972.
- Helen Keller was the first deaf-blind person to write a book and authored 14 books during her lifetime.
Women’s History Month facts foster children’s historical curiosity and empathy through the study of courageous pioneers. In a classroom setting, these facts work best when paired with our Famous Women in History for Kids guide. Research shared by the National Women’s History Museum suggests that learning about female role models increases confidence and career aspirations in young girls.
Conclusion
Women’s History Month facts play an essential role in shaping well-rounded, socially aware learners. From scientific breakthroughs to civil rights milestones, each fact supports a deeper understanding of our shared heritage. The most effective history lessons balance facts with inspiration. When chosen thoughtfully, these activities inspire curiosity and prepare students for a future where everyone’s contributions are valued.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is Women’s History Month significant?
Women’s History Month is significant because it provides a dedicated time to reflect on the often-hidden contributions of women to science, politics, and culture. For decades, traditional history books excluded female narratives. By teaching these facts, Worksheetzone helps balance the historical record and inspires the next generation of leaders to see their own potential in these stories.
2. What is a fun fact about Women’s History Month?
A fun fact is that the celebration originally lasted only a week! It started as “Women’s History Week” in 1978 before being expanded to a full month due to popular demand and the tireless work of activists. This evolution shows the growing national commitment to recognizing women’s impact on society. You can find more engaging trivia in our Holiday Fun section.
3. Are there printable resources for these facts?
Yes, Worksheetzone offers a wide range of free printable resources, including biography templates and Word Search puzzles based on famous women. These tools are perfect for reinforcing the facts learned in class. We also provide a Lesson Plan Generator to help you build a complete curriculum.
4. How can I use these facts in a classroom setting?
We recommend using these facts as “Daily Discoveries” throughout the month of March. You can also turn them into a research project where students use our Famous Women in History for Kids guide to dive deeper into one specific figure. Collaborative projects, like a classroom “Hall of Fame,” are excellent for building community.
