March 8, 2021
Every March, the United States and other countries recognize Women’s History Month and on March 8, the world recognizes International Women’s Day.
Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate women and recognize their contributions to history, society, and culture.
Today, we continue to celebrate women who are trailblazers in their fields, influencing science, policy, culture, music, healthcare and so much more!
The theme of Women’s History Month 2021 is “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced”, an ode to the women’s suffrage movement. It’s a continuation of the theme from 2020, which marked the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote.
While there’s much to celebrate, women continue to face inequalities compared to men. This month can also be a time to acknowledge those inequalities and strive for equality.
Women’s History Month started as Women’s Day, which then became Women’s History Week, which became a month-long celebration every March.
In 1978, an education task force in Sonoma County, California, started Women’s History Week in order to recognize women’s contributions in the K-12 curriculum. Many other schools joined the initiative which featured programs, presentations, a “Real Woman” essay contest, and a final parade in downtown Santa Rosa, California.
The momentum spread and in 1980 a group of women, now known as the National Women’s History Alliance, pushed to have Women’s History Week celebrated nationally.
That year, President Jimmy Carter first proclaimed National Women’s History Week in the week of March 8, saying:
“Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.”
In 1987, Congress officially designated March as National Women’s History Month.
Iconic women to celebrate
There are countless women to celebrate during Women’s History Month, so we’ll just highlight a few:
For other articles and resources on Women’s History Month, check out PBS’ Iconic Women to Celebrate This Women’s History Month, the National Women’s History Museum, WomensHistoryMonth.gov, and the National Women’s History Alliance.
The fight for equality continues
Today, women participate in almost every sphere of society, but that does not mean the fight for recognition and equality is over.
Women continue to face inequalities such as the gender pay gap. In 2018 women on average earned 85% of what men earned according to the Pew Research Center.
Women also take on a larger share of caregiving roles than men and they may face more barriers to healthcare than men. Plus, women have been especially hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic compared to men.
In his proclamation of Women’s History Month 2021, President Joe Biden recognized women’s contributions to history while acknowledging the inequalities that women face.
“As we celebrate the contributions and progress of women and girls, we must also reflect on the extraordinary and unequal burdens they continue to bear today. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated barriers that have held back women — particularly women of color — for generations.” — President Joe Biden, 2021
At Alpha Medical, we’re celebrating women’s accomplishments and know that there is still work to be done.
That’s what inspires our co-founder and CEO Gloria Lau and Chief Medical Director Dr. Mary Jacobson, who are both passionate about women’s health and creating accessible, affordable, convenient healthcare.
When Gloria moved from Hong Kong to California, she noticed how difficult it was to navigate the healthcare system. Her frustration fueled a desire to make things better.
“The more I talked with other moms, colleagues and friends, the clearer it became that women almost exclusively shoulder the burden in the healthcare world…And yet, despite these inequities, the unfiltered magic of women remains. Whether by the force of our minds or the strength of our bodies, women are unstoppable.” — Gloria Lau, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpha Medical
Gloria wanted to create something new and modern that could simplify healthcare and give women control in every aspect of their health. That’s how Alpha Medical was born.
We treat medical conditions and offer online consultations regardless of insurance or proximity to a doctor. Alpha has come a long way since its inception in 2017 and we will continue to grow our services and expand our locations. Check out our website to learn more, and happy Women’s History Month!
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