NEWSLETTER

MAY 2024

A MESSAGE FROM ALL OF US

AT THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY ALLIANCE

Dear Friends:

Every spring, we are reminded that nature is one of our greatest teachers. After months of barren winter landscapes, the growth and resurgence we see all around us is truly symbolic. It represents the opportunity for new beginnings, as well as our collective hopes for the future. 

There is perhaps no better time for the NWHA to share the news that our organization is entering a new chapter. For us, 2024 will be a year of evolution in which we will re-examine our mission, vision, and methods of outreach. We do this as a means of better serving our members, partners, donors, and friends all across the country.

Please rest assured that we remain steadfastly committed to the NWHA’s time-tested goals of education, empowerment, equality and inclusion. And of course, we will be guided by the concept that for all women everywhere, “Our History Is Our Strength.”

We hope you will join us as we plan for the future that lies ahead. One thing is certain: It will be unequivocally female.

THE MONTH OF MAY WE CELEBRATE

JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE

& ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE

NWHA is proud to honor and celebrate two rich cultural heritages: Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Throughout the month of May, we recognize and celebrate the diverse contributions of Jewish Americans to our nation’s history, culture, and society. From trailblazing leaders and innovators to artists and activists, Jewish Americans have left an indelible mark on every aspect of American life. To learn more, please visit WOMEN OF VALOR.

Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer. Betty Friedan, at home, NYC. United States New York New York State, 1987. [4 June] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2020730766/.

Similarly, during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate the vibrant and multifaceted contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to our country. From their rich cultural traditions and heritage to their invaluable contributions to fields such as science, arts, technology, and beyond, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played an integral role in shaping the diverse tapestry of America. To learn more, please visit ASIAN/PACIFIC HERITAGE MONTH.

Van Vechten, Carl, photographer. Portrait of Anna May Wong., 1935. Sept. 22. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2004663757/.

Join us as we honor and uplift the stories, achievements, and legacies of Jewish Americans and Asian Americans Pacific Islanders during this special month of celebration and reflection. Let us commit to fostering greater understanding, appreciation, and inclusion of these diverse communities within our society.

Did Someone Say INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISM?

learn more…

Intersectional Feminism

& Kimberle Crenshaw

Intersectional feminism (noun) /

ɪntərˈsɛkʃənl ˈfɛməˌnɪzəm/

a movement recognizing that barriers to gender equality vary according to other aspects of a woman’s identity, including age, race, ethnicity, class, and religion, and striving to address a diverse spectrum of women’s issues.

Here are a few excellent articles on the subject:

·    The Intersectionality Wars: When Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term 30 years ago it was relatively obscure legal concept. Then it went viral.

·    A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States: Feminism and Intersectionality.

·    What is intersectionality and why does it make feminism more effective?

NOTABLE HERSTORICAL facts in the month of May

May 9, 1960: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the first commercially produced birth control pill in the world, allowing women to control when and if they have children. Margaret Sanger initially commissioned “the pill” with funding from heiress Katherine McCormick.

May 15, 1869: Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton found the National Woman Suffrage Association, which coordinated the national suffrage movement. In 1890, the group teamed with the American Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, seated, and Susan B. Anthony, standing on the right., None. [Between 1880 and 1902] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/97500087/.

May 20-21, 1932: Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman, and second pilot ever (Charles Lindbergh was first) to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic.

May 29, 1851: A formerly enslaved worker turned abolitionist and women’s rights activist, Sojourner Truth delivers her famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. “And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man—when I could get it—and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne 13 children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman?”

NWHA AUCTION:

COMING SOON!

Get ready to bid for a cause! NWHA is thrilled to announce our upcoming auction, where you’ll have the chance to snag incredible items while supporting our mission. From unique collectibles to exclusive experiences, there’s something for everyone. Stay tuned for more details on how you can participate and make a difference in celebrating women’s history. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to support NWHA’s work while scoring some fantastic finds!

HONOR SOMEONE SPECIAL THIS MOTHER’S DAY

Celebrate the extraordinary women in your life this Mother’s Day by purchasing a special card from NWHA. Honor their strength, resilience, and love with a meaningful gesture that supports our mission of promoting gender equity and celebrating women’s achievements.

To purchase a card(s) for the special women in your life, please visit us HERE.

Did you know? HOW DID MOTHER’S DAY BEGIN?

A. In 1858, when Ann Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker, organized “Mother’s Work Days” to improve the sanitation and avert deaths from disease-bearing insects and seepage of polluted water.

B. In 1872, when Boston poet, pacifist and women’s suffragist Julia Ward Howe established a special day for mothers –and for peace– not long after the bloody Franco-Prussian War.

C. In 1905, when Ann Jarvis died. Her daughter, Anna, decided to memorialize her mother’s lifelong activism, and began a campaign that culminated in 1914 when Congress passed a Mother’s Day resolution.

For the answer and to learn more about the history of Mother’s Day, click HERE.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

WOMEN WHO TAKE CARE OF THE PLANET

Library of Congress. A group of young women carrying walking sticks, c.1915-1920. Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2014706201/.