Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982, as “Women’s History Week." Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as "Women’s History Week." In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month." Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History month.” From the Law Library of Congress' guide to the legislative history of Women's History Month.

The Center for Women celebrates Women's History Month every year with a month-long series of events dedicated to Women and Gender as well as a Keynote Speaker.

If you or your department would like to add your event to the annual Women's History Month calendar, please email tia.williams@emory.edu

womens history month 2022

Past Women's History Month


2021 Women's History Month Keynote: Beyond the Games: Black Women & Sports – Past, Present and Future featuring Renee Montgomery, Elisabeth Akinwale, Keiko Price, and Lanita Gregory Campbell

2019 Women's History Month Keynote: Black Feminist Futures: Towards An Engaged Praxis featuring Sheri Davis-Faulkner, PhD, Jennifer Nash, PhD, and moderated by Chanel Craft Tanner, PhD

2018 Women's History Month Keynote: Raging From Within: Creating Change From Inside The System featuring Monique Dorsainvil (‘09C)

2017 Women's History Month Keynote: Making Love: Sex Positivity, Anti-Violence, and The Building of Healthy Intimacies featuring Ulester Douglas and Marla Renee Stewart

2016 Women’s History Month keynote & 20th Anniversary Jessica Glasser Lecture featuring Monica Raye Simpson and Johnetta Elzie, and moderated Whitney Peoples

2015 Women's History Month Keynote: Anita DeFrantz