Women in Industry: Celebrating the Achievements of Women in March 2023
It’s Women’s History Month, and we are highlighting some of the country’s courageous women in workforce history—women who witnessed first-hand inequities in the workplace including worker discrimination, environmental and community injustices, and waste or misuse of human capital and resources.
Women’s History Month illuminates and honors heroines that have fought and continue to fight to address practices, policies, and perspectives that adversely affect women as well as communities.
To officially honor historical women, a small group from Sonoma County, CA, in 1978, created a weeklong celebration, telling the stories and showcasing legends (and legends in the making) and their stories of reform. Two years later, President Jimmy Carter’s message to the Nation designated March 2-8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. Following President Carter’s proclamation, between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing future presidents to proclaim March of each year as Women's History Month.
“Woman’s work.” “Working women.” “Women working outside the home.” “Women in the workplace.” These are familiar phrases – from early notions to more present day. “Work” is the common denominator. Women have been and continue to be work trailblazers, innovators, stabilizers, equalizers, and maximizers. Work isn’t just what we do. It’s why we do it. And who we do it for. Work is one way women make a difference and have an impact.”
HIP embraces the work of historical SHEroes and their quest to elevate opportunities in the workplace and in communities. Below are quotes and the impact several trailblazing women left behind or are still making.
Table of Contents
Workplace & Community
“None of us can take anything with us when we're gone. It's what we leave that's gonna matter.” Erin Brockovich did not think it was ok for chemical producers to dump waste in her community and she demanded that they be held accountable. The prevalence of cancer-causing chemicals impacted her children and the lives of those living in the vicinity of the chemical plant. She continues to speak out on the devastation of global groundwater pollution created by the chemical industry.
“Knowing what I do, there would be no future peace for me if I kept silent.” Rachel Carson, a worker for the US Bureau of Fisheries, witnessed the death of wildlife around lakes and found the chemical DDT, in high quantities in the water. She revealed the findings but found little action or care among farmers or the authorities. Later, she wrote the book, Silent Spring, to illustrate pesticide harm to the lake, fish, and other living things. Her words continue to impact the pesticide industry.
“Service is the rent we pay for being,” said Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund, who is making an impact on children’s advocacy and research. “Don’t feel entitled to anything you didn’t sweat and struggle for.”
Sojourner Truth (1797 – 1883) African American abolitionist and speaker, who shed light on the capabilities of women as equal to men, in her famous “Ain’t I a woman?” speech.
Entertainment
“I just look at women sometimes and I just want to ask them, ‘Do you know how fabulous you are?’” Viola Davis is an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) status actress who overcame poverty and other socio-economic barriers and now uses her roles to give voice and visuals to strong women characters. “Anything can be achieved with a good, healthy dose of courage, “says Davis.
“It’s not the load that breaks you down; it’s the way you carry it.” —Lena Horne, dancer, singer, and actress, impacted Hollywood’s standards and refused to “bow down to industry skin color”.
“You are not your circumstances. You are your possibilities. If you know that, you can do anything.” —Oprah Winfrey, Talk-Show Host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. Oprah has impacted lives around the globe and launched dozens of careers.
Education
Sally Ride was an educator who attended and taught at Stanford University. When she applied to be an American Astronaut, Ride said it was important to all women that the bar be as high as it is for men – a belief she carried throughout her career and life. She wrote five science books for children, initiated and directed education projects for students hoping to pursue science, and started Sally Ride Science which helps to combat misconceptions about women in STEM and "inspire young people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and to promote STEM literacy." Her impact on STEM continues today.
Ida B. Wells was an African American journalist and educator who was also an early civil rights leader. She was one of the founding members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Industry
Amelia Earhart (1897 - 1937) dreamed of being an aviator pioneer and became one. She authored the experience and inspired many women to pursue their goals and not be afraid of failure. “Use your fear... it can take you to the place where you store your courage.”
Dolores Huerta is a Mexican American labor leader, activist, and the founder of the United Farm Workers of America. Huerta played a crucial role in organizing the Delano grape strike of 1965. In 2012 she received the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights. She is praised for her advocacy in the workplace and social justice. Now 92, Dolores Huerta continues to work tirelessly, developing leaders and advocating for the working poor, women, and children. Scholarships are awarded in her name.
Politics
“Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives." —Michelle Obama, Former First Lady of The United States, author, role model, and advocate. Mrs. Obama has worked as an advocate for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating. She supported American designers and is still considered a fashion icon. Her best-selling books include Becoming, Chasing the Light, and The Light we Carry.
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962), wife and political aide of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She campaigned for human rights and became head of the UN Human Rights Commission where she helped to draft the 1948 UN Declaration of Human Rights.
With so many others that endured with passion and resistance, we end with an excerpt of a poem by the great poet, Maya Angelou who gave us “Phenomenal Woman.”
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
There are many SHEroes in all walks of work and life. Some of their stories are known. And there are many more untold and undertold stories of women who have made tremendous contributions to all aspects of work and society. We celebrate them…not just in March, but all year …because their impact continues year-round.
Follow us on our social media throughout March for one of our favorite quotes from a heroic woman whose impact continues to guide and shape us today.