nonbinary transfemme artist and activist, Randy Ford. Image provided courtesy of Moses Sun
This year’s theme for Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (tomorrow, March 8) is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion,” which is meant to recognize women who have long understood the necessity to eliminate bias and discrimination from everyday life and institutions.
The roots of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day are in the protests of the early 1900s for women’s right to vote and against poor working conditions for women in New York City factories. The first Women’s Day celebration in the US was also in New York City, in 1909, and now International Women’s Day is celebrated every March 8.
There are many upcoming local Women’s History Month events and a variety of on- and off- campus resources about women’s history and contemporary women’s issues available to students, staff, and faculty!
The WCC Library
WCC’s library houses various books and resources about women’s history in the United States and specifically the history of women of color nationally and internationally. Some good, informative reads available at the library’s physical location on the second floor of the Phyllis and Charles Self Learning Commons include “A History of Gender in America: Essays, Documents, and Articles” by history and women’s studies scholar Sylvia D. Hoffert and “In Pursuit of Equity: Women, Men, and the Quest for Economic Citizenship in 20th-Century America” by Alice Kessler-Harris.
Other more contemporary works on the rights and experiences of women with intersecting identities available in the library are “Gender and Community: Muslim Women’s Rights in India” by Vrinda Narain and “Still Living The Edges: A Disabled Women’s Reader” by Diane Driedger, available in the online database.
(Thank you to librarians Christy and Olivia for helping find articles and books for this!)
Community Resources
Two regional organizations that provide educational resources of women’s history are the League of Women Voters of Bellingham-Whatcom County and the Washington Women’s History Consortium. The Bellingham branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), established in 1918, celebrates and supports women in higher education and focuses on advancing gender equity through scholarships, events, and political engagement.
The Association for Women in Science (AWIS), a nationally-recognized organization, offers a great number of educational and mental and physical health resources for women of color, and the UMass Chan Medical School’s disability information website features a list of links to resources for women with disabilities.
Upcoming Local Events
“The International Women’s Day Artisan Market” at The Majestic Ballroom in Bellingham from 1-5 p.m. on Friday, March 8 will “celebrate and honor women and BIPOC artists and crafters here in Whatcom County.” Admission is free! Aspiring vendors can apply by filling out the form on The Majestic Art Cafe’s website.
Stones Throw Brewery in the Fairhaven district is hosting a Women’s Day celebration from 2-9 p.m. on Friday, March 8 with free admission. On the brewery’s website, – where the full, 7-hour schedule can be found – they describe the event as family friendly and pet friendly, with multiple events, including a gravel bike ride for female-identifying individuals from 2-4 p.m. and live music by local folk group The Sweet Goodbyes from 5-7 p.m.
At Maritime Park from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, March 8, “Bread and Roses for All” will be co-sponsored by The Whatcom Peace and Justice Center and Community to Community Development in celebration of queer joy and justice and to recognize the labor and lives of working women.
