The time of year has come to celebrate. Effort. Bravery. Freedom. Work. Caregiving. Healing. Hope. It’s time to celebrate all that females have done to pave the road for where they stand today. It’s March, 2020. This is Women’s History Month.

“It is a cool whole month where you get to keep seeing images and hearing things and being part of things,’” English teacher, Mrs. Russo said.

Mrs. Russo appreciates Women’s History Month and looks forward to incorporating it into the curriculum of her class Women’s Literature the 2022-2023 school year.

Since 1978, the recognition of females has grown from a mere Women’s Week in Santa Rosa, California to a nationally recognized month.

“I think there is an evolution of the way that women view themselves and have been perceived to society,” Russo said. “What I’m teaching the class [is] pulling the historical pieces and the current pieces together to define the theme.”

Russo admires historical women such as Madelyn Albright and Eleanor Roosevelt, who have used their voices in difficult situations to achieve their goals.

“Looking at women and their achievements, I think that it’s just really cool,” Russo said.

Senior Lauren Campbell also acknowledges the importance of the month. Campbell admires Shirley Chisholm, the first colored woman elected for US Congress. She also ran for president.

“She really helped draw attention to gender inequities and advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment,” Campbell said.

While Russo feels women have done many fantastic things throughout history, she finds fault in the perception that society has on women.

“I think that women are over sexualized, oftentimes,” Russo said. “When women and men are in the same room, you feel that lack of the same footing. It’s not blatant. It’s very subtle.”

Principal of Grandview High School, Dr. Lisa Roberts also happens to identify a way in which women are treated unequally.

“When girls are assertive, they’re called bossy. But boys can be assertive,” Roberts said.

Women need to be more cognizant of their tone for this reason, and Roberts feels it’s unfair.

“I think the word feminist, is viewed as negative, but I think it just means that you think that women should have equal rights,” Roberts said.

Roberts also shared a personal experience of ironic microaggression while head coaching her daughter’s competitive softball team.

“Umpires or other coaches will come and they’ll look past me to our male coaches,” Roberts said.

Dr. Roberts is a woman coaching a traditionally women’s sport, therefore confusing her why the umpires and coaches refer to the male coaches. Despite experiences like this and with support from both strong female and male influences throughout her life, Roberts has never felt like she can’t do something.

Women are important and this month is a reminder of all that women and their history holds.

“I think that our job as women is to support each other and offer each other opportunities,” Roberts said, “Our job is to make sure that we are role models to those who are coming after us so that girls never should ever have to feel like they don’t have an opportunity. I just want to be a role model for those who identify as female.”