Pasadena Celebrates Women’s History Month with City Council Proclamation

The City Council issued a proclamation recognizing March as Women’s History Month during its meeting on Monday.

The proclamation read by Mayor Victor Gordo recognizes the role and contributions of women to the city of Pasadena and to society throughout history.

“Whereas, women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of Pasadena in countless recorded and unrecorded ways.”

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982, as “Women’s History Week.”

Over the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.”

But in 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress 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 have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.

The local proclamation on Monday stated that despite the participation of women in all facets of society, their role has consistently been “undervalued” in the literature, leadership, teaching, and study of American history — thus, it is fitting that the city “recognize their numerous accomplishments.”