A RESOLUTION

 

1Recognizing March 8, 2014, as "International Women's Day" and
2the month of March 2014 as "National Women's History Month"
3in Pennsylvania.

4WHEREAS, Women of every race, class and ethnic background
5have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of
6the nation and the world in countless recorded and unrecorded
7ways; and

8WHEREAS, American women have played and continue to play a
9critical economic, cultural and social role in every sphere of
10the life of the nation by constituting a significant portion of
11the labor force working inside and outside the home; and

12WHEREAS, American women were particularly important in the

1establishment of early charitable, philanthropic and cultural
2institutions in the nation; and

3WHEREAS, American women have been leaders, not only in
4securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but
5also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement,
6the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and
7other movements, especially the peace movement, all of which
8created a more fair and just society for all; and

9WHEREAS, Despite these contributions, the role of American
10women in history has been consistently overlooked and
11undervalued in the literature, teaching and study of American
12and world history; and

13WHEREAS, After the American Revolution, the notion of
14education as a safeguard for democracy created opportunities for
15girls to gain only a basic education; and

16WHEREAS, Pioneers of secondary education for young women
17faced arguments from physicians and others who claimed that
18females were incapable of intellectual development equal to men
19and that they would be harmed by striving for it; and

20WHEREAS, The commitment of women to educational equality
21throughout the entirety of academia has resulted in the
22ascension of women in politics and government; and

23WHEREAS, The year 2014 marks the 34th anniversary of the
24National Women's History Project; and

25WHEREAS, The National Women's History Project began with a
26proclamation by President Jimmy Carter that declared the week of
27March 8, 1980, as the first National Women's History Week; and

28WHEREAS, This year, the theme for National Women's History
29Month is "Celebrating Women of Character, Courage and
30Commitment," which honors the extraordinary and often

1unrecognized determination and tenacity of women; and

2WHEREAS, Against social convention and often legal
3restraints, women have created a legacy that expands the
4frontiers of possibility for generations to come and have
5demonstrated their character, courage and commitment as mothers,
6educators, institution builders, relief workers, CEOs and
7leaders in business, politics, religion and the community; and

8WHEREAS, The lives of these women and their work inspire
9girls and women to achieve their full potential and encourage
10boys and men to respect the diversity and depth of women's
11experience; and

12WHEREAS, The first International Women's Day was held in 1911
13and now each year International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated
14on March 8; and

15WHEREAS, Annually on International Women's Day, thousands of
16events are held throughout the world to inspire women and
17celebrate the social, political and economic achievements of
18women while focusing world attention on areas requiring further
19action; and

20WHEREAS, The 2014 theme of International Women's Day is
21"Inspiring Change" and encourages advocacy for women's
22advancement everywhere in every way and calls for challenging
23the status quo of women's equality and vigilance inspiring
24positive change; and

25WHEREAS, The vast array of communication channels, supportive
26spokespeople, equality research, campaigns and corporate
27responsibility initiatives means everyone can be an advocate
28inspiring change for women's advancement; and

29WHEREAS, Thousands of events occur to mark the economic,
30political and social achievements of women and organizations,

1governments, charities, educational institutions, women's
2groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day; and

3WHEREAS, National Women's History Month and International
4Women's Day are ideal venues for all Pennsylvanians to reflect
5and recognize women's struggle to obtain equal educational
6rights and to highlight the numerous contributions of women
7across this Commonwealth and the nation; and

8WHEREAS, The recognition of March 2014 as National Women's
9History Month and March 8, 2014, as International Women's Day
10highlights the numerous contributions of women across this
11Commonwealth and the nation who helped create a more fair and
12just society for all people; therefore be it

13RESOLVED, The the House of Representatives recognize March
142014 as "National Women's History Month" in Pennsylvania and
15March 8, 2014, as "International Women's Day" and invite the
16women, men and children of this Commonwealth to continue to
17explore the critical economic, cultural and social roles women
18have played and continue to play in every sphere of life in this
19Commonwealth and the nation.