International Women's History Month 2025: How it started and why it's so important

International Women’s History Month stands as an important reminder for the contributions women have made towards society, culture and history. Its principles focus on celebrating women's achievements and striving for a world with gender equality.

Each year, the National Women’s History Alliance designates a theme for the month. For 2025, the theme is “Moving Forward Together,” spotlighting “women educating and inspiring generations.” This theme is meant to highlight and support women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship and leadership to shape the minds and futures of all generations.

International Women’s Day, celebrated March 8,^, is themed “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” This is a call to action demanding equal rights, power and opportunities for all where no one is left behind, according to the United Nations.

But where did it all start?

The origin of the month's celebration in the United States highlights the progress of the gender equality movement. It began with a single day. International Women’s Day started in 1911 as a worldwide recognition of women's economic, political, and social contributions.

Women’s History Month originated in 1978 from a weeklong celebration in a Sonoma, California school district, highlighting women's contributions to culture, history, and society. Hundreds of students participated, presentations were given at dozens of schools, and a parade was even held.

The idea spread nationwide and reached the White House. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week.

The U.S. Congress took it a step further in 1981, passing a resolution to establish a national celebration. Six years after that, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to make it the whole month of March, according to History.com.

“Women's history is an essential and indispensable part of the national narrative. By understanding the achievements, struggles, and contributions of women throughout history, we gain a fuller, more accurate, and more inclusive understanding of our collective past,” says Molly Murphy MacGregor Co-Founder & former Executive Director, NWHA.

The month is to reflect on how far society has come, and how to continue to push forward to see significant progress in the goal. According to the Global Gender Gap Report of 2024 by World Economic Forum, the gap only closed by 0.1% from 68.5% to 68.6% last year. Europe leads with a 75% close of the gap, Northern America second with 74.3%.

The hope for accelerated progress in 2025 lives in the fabric of International Women’s History Month, as we continue to “move forward together.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: International Women’s History Month 2025: Moving forward together