The misogyny of the arts does not manifest itself in loud ways. Rather, it can be seen in the erasure of women’s history within the humanities and the subtle but strong exclusion within the industry. By learning the history and current statistics of women in the humanities, it is easy to argue that the humanities are almost as misogynistic as every other industry.

Women’s History in the Humanities

Legends are legends because they were able to define or redefine an aspect of life. What would Western philosophy be without Socrates? Would any classical music playlist be complete without Mozart? Could a class on American literature bear to mention F. Scott Fitzgerald? These men, among many others, have carved their name into history. Because history would be incomplete without them – or at least that is what the narrative tells us.

If legends are remembered because of their impact, then why is it that Aspasia of Miletus’ name has been nearly lost to history despite being the tutor of Socrates, who then tutored Plato, who then tutored Aristotle, and so on?  Why is it that even though her musical abilities were on part with her brother’s, Maria Anna “Nannerl” Mozart’s name is considered a cliff note? Or what about the women like Zelda Fitzgerald, the woman whose diatribes were what made F. Scott Fitzgerald’s writing career, but are only remembered as a wife?

None of this is to deny the skill or influence of any of these men. It is simply to question why their legacies can be taught as a degree while women of the same skill and influence are being lost to history with every passing day. By prioritizing the contribution of men and constantly – and intentionally – erasing the contributions of women, the art world is  disgracing the people it could not exist without.

​Side Note:

Here are some legendary but criminally underrepresented women within the arts:

Philosophers: Aspasia of Miletus [2] and Hypatia of Alexandria [3].

Authors: Sophia Tolstaya [4] and Alice Walker [5].

Painters: Sofonisba Anguissola [6] and Ma Xianglan [7].

Musicians: Maria Anna “Nannerl” Mozart [8] and Teresa Carreño [9].

Women in the Humanities Today:

Misogyny in the arts targets not only historical female artists, but also towards female artists of today. Famously, the Guerrilla Girls discovered that less than 3% of exhibited artists in museums were female, despite women making up 83% of all nude figures in art [10]. In 2024, only thirty-seven percent of artist that made the billboard for top 100 musicians were women [11]. As of 2023, women made up only seventeen percent of literature award winners [12]. These statistics, although shocking, are only snapshots of the current industry.

When Art Prof interviewed female artists about their lived experiences, many reported their art being pigeonhole into romance or motherhood, having job recruiters hire men who they saw themselves in, and having people be physically shocked upon finding out their favorite art was done by a woman. These experiences, amongst countless others, has caused female artists of today to feel like the boys-club that they are trying to enter is not barred by a glass ceiling but rather a brick wall.

Women’s Future in the Humanities

Having been erased from history and covered up today, and with the lack of recognition and support around this issue, female artists are left wondering when – or if – they will be able to make the equitable gains that women in many other industries have made. To support female artists, it is crucial to learn their contribution to art history and their current contributions to the art world. Even if it means knowing Natalia Sedova’s name rather than Leon Trotsky’s. And if you are an artist who happens to be a girl reading this: remember that your work is just as important, keep reminding yourself and the world of that. 

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The start

When the film industry first started in Hollywood, the directors would hire stage actors because the art and reputation of screen acting hadn’t been developed yet. This left room to pave the way for the new type of acting, and Mary Pickford was up to the task. She started out doing stage shows in her youth before her first film in 1909. She quickly rose through the ranks with each film she did. People adored her for many reasons, but most for her dedication to acting and care she put into each role. Mary helped to create the United Artists Corporation with Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, and Douglas Fairbanks. The UAC was a film studio that created films like West Side Story and The Gold Rush. Mary was in over 200 films and was given an honorary Oscar in 1976.

The Hays era

In the early 1930s, the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) put in place the Hays codes. These codes put in place moral regulations on the films coming out of Hollywood. However, these codes also promoted bigotry typical to the time period. The codes weren’t fully implemented into the whole of Hollywood until 1934, so any films before then are considered ‘pre-code films’. These pre-code films made huge unintentional strides in representation before the censorship set in. Josephine Baker was the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture, Zouzou (1934). She became the most successful American entertainer in France, where she moved because of segregation laws in America. Marlene Dietrich, dressed in men’s clothing, had the first lgbtq kiss on film in Morocco (1930). This representation, led by women, would have been the standard without the Hays code’s censorship.

That didn’t stop the women of Hollywood from seeking out that representation. The 1940s saw the rise of women in plots that had nothing to do with romance or marriage. Hattie McDaniel became the first Black woman to win an Oscar for Gone with the Wind in 1940. Bette Davis became the first woman president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1941. Olivia de Havilland won a lawsuit against Warner Bros on an unfair labor loophole that traps actors in unfairly long contracts in 1944. Pauline Frederick became the first full-time TV newswoman correspondent, and Mary Kay and Johnny featured the first pregnant woman on TV in 1948. The 40s were a strong time for creating that representation for women despite the hays codes.

Real women in fictional characters

The 1950s and 60s embraced a world of realism on the screen. All About Eve and Sunset Boulevard addressed ageism in Hollywood and I Love Lucy is the first time a couple is seen sleeping in the same bed in 1951. That Girl (1966) is about an independent woman in New York City. Julia (1968) was a sitcom about a single, widowed mom and was incredible at avoiding most stereotypes about Black single moms. Which doesn’t seem like much, but with the strict standards and stereotypes of the 50s, these were huge influences on breaking those standards.

It Girls

The late 20th century was a shining point for iconic women in pop culture. While it’s not her first role, Marilyn Monroe stars in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953 and becomes one of the biggest icons of the 20th century. Dorothy Dandridge, in Carmen Jones, is the first black woman to be nominated for best actress in 1955. Nichelle Nichols plays Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek in 1966 and is one of the first Black female characters on TV to not be a maid. Also, Nichelle and William Shatner shared the first interracial kiss on TV. Rita Moreno, starring in West Side Story, is the first Latino woman to win an Oscar in 1962. Gail Fisher is the first black woman to win a primetime Emmy in 1970. Finally, in 1972, The Mary Tyler Moore Show was the first show to have a character openly on birth control.

Woman at the forefront

The latter 20th century opened up stories and discussions of women in the workplace. From real-world change like Congress passing the Equal Credit Opportunity Act in 1974, and the Directors Guild of America suing Warner Bros. and Columbia Pictures over discrimination for female directors. To representation on the silver screen like 9 to 5 (1980), Joan Rivers’s late-night talk show (1986), Princess Leia (1978), and Ripley (1979). This time was also a time of firsts when it came to controversial topics such as menstruation and sexuality. Courteney Cox was the first person to say the word “period” on TV in 1985. Heartbeat on ABC stars Marilyn McGrath as TV’s first lesbian main character in a long-term relationship in 1988, and 21 Jump Street had the first lesbian kiss on TV in 1990. Finally, But I’m a Cheerleader (1999), by Jamie Babbit, explores the complexity of sexuality and a happy ending.

Because of the efforts of women all throughout the 20th century, the 21st century has looked incredibly promising. Halle Berry became the first Black woman to win Best Actress in 2002. Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Director for The Hurt Locker in 2010, and Patty Jenkins became the highest-paid woman director in 2017. Today, 26% of directors in Hollywood are women.

Hollywood is a place where you reach for the stars. Women have every right to those stars as men, so start with a film on your phone and then the big screen.

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1800s-1910s

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, women turned fashion into something practical yet beautiful with bloomers and hat pins. In 1851, a group of women created a skirt called the bloomer costume. This skirt was a knee-caf length skirt with pants underneath and named after Amelia Bloomer, an editor for a women’s rights newspaper named The Lily. These skirts held some popularity for a while but were rejected by formerly enslaved women because it reminded them too much of what they wore on plantations. Instead, former enslaved women opted for longer and more luxurious dresses to wear their freedom and show their change in class.

Nearing the end of the 20th century, women once again made a practical and a show of liberation through using hat pins as weapons. Women would use their hat pins to prevent being attacked, and by 1910, Chicago debated creating a law that would make hat pins longer than nine inches illegal, and those who wore them out would be arrested and fined $50. The law eventually passed and spread to other cities throughout the United States, but it never stopped women from wearing the long hat pins and using them as weapons, even if there were several arrests in the process.

Photo Source

1920s

The 1920s were the start of a new movement for women’s fashion when the bra became popularized, the first official bra being made in 1910 by Mary Phelps Jacob. Hemlines became shorter, and waistlines became lower in an effort to create clothes that were less formal with fewer layers. These dresses were focused on comfort and convenience. Another advantage of the dress style was that it was easy to recreate at home, allowing it to be worn by women of all classes as long as they had the materials. This boxy look also promoted women’s sports wear and, in turn, the increased participation of women in sports.

Photo Source

1940s

In the 1940s, fashion was a way of showing patriotism and fighting back against Hitler. Clothing was rationed, so new designs, like Claire McCardell’s wrap dress, and fabrics, such as denim, seersucker, and jersey, were being used in everyday fashion. However, the biggest way women promoted the war through fashion was with makeup. In response to Hitler’s disdain for “made-up women”, makeup companies promoted makeup, especially a bold lip, as a way to fight against fascism. Elizabeth Arden’s lipstick that perfectly matches the red piping on women’s military uniforms became a staple and was even included in official military kits for women.

Photo source

1960s

The 1960s were a second wave of the fashion trends in the twenties, shorter hemlines and boxy silhouettes that could be recreated at home. The most iconic dress to come out of this decade, however, was made from a gradual process inspired by young London women. For the first half of the 1960s, Londoners were manually shortening the hemline of their dresses, slowly going up the calf, over the knee, and reaching as short as high thigh. Mary Quant saw this phenomenon and put it into her designs, creating the first commercialized miniskirt. This design promoted the liberation from the strict rules on women in the 1950s and represented the transition into a new era of rights.

1980s

The 1980s saw a shift in fashion when clothes started appealing towards different body types instead of the wearer having to change their bodies to be fashionable. This shone through the jersey athletic wear of the early ’80s. Women were also flooding into the workforce and used fashionable, bold dress suits to cement their place in the office. It was both professional and fashionable and commanded respect.

Present Day

Today, there are several fashion trends coming in from all over the world with some sort of origin in women’s rights and liberation. Vintage girls enjoy the designs of bygone eras without the toxic political environment towards women. Lolita fashion from Japan promotes rococo style frills and the rejection of giving up on child-like fashion. Punk fashion promotes inclusivity and rejection of bigotry through safety pins, both a fashion statement and a sign to others that those who are wearing them are safe. Thrift flippers are beacons of recycled fabrics and original designs. Athleisure sports both fashion and function as a loved style among athletes and busy moms. Every style is beautiful in its own way, and showing the dimensions of women and how we are all different but bound through fashion.

Fashion changes with time, so every article of clothing is a preserved moment in history. Looking back on what was worn and how it changed can help us understand how we as a society changed and why that change was so important. Fashion involves being open to change, but don’t forget how our clothes used to look. After all, history is all about understanding the past so we can go towards the future.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Sources cited:

1920-1929

1980-1989

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Disclaimer

Before beginning, I want to emphasize that this is not meant to serve as either a discouragement or encouragement for marriage, nor to judge marriage entirely as an institution. In the United States, marriage has made significant strides toward equality. Nevertheless, statistical evidence shows that there is still work to be done before full equality is achieved.

Historical Marriages

Marriage is one of the oldest practices in human history, with its earliest surviving record of marriage is approximately 4,375 years old, dating back to 2350 B.C. Mesopotamia. Across thousands of years and countless societies, it is impossible to fully cover the history of marriage. Because I am focusing on marriage in the United States, I will be primarily referencing marital practices in Western Europe over the past 500 years due to its direct affect on modern American marriage. 

Due to Hollywood and the patriarchal rewriting of history, when imagining historical marriages, many assume that it was between a young powerless girl and her all powerful older husband. While recognizing that marriage was used for hundreds of years to suppress women both legally and socially, the fact of the matter is that general marital practices in history weren’t what Hollywood has made them out to be.

Common Misconceptions

First of all, marriage was a private affair between two consenting individuals that involved neither the law, the church, nor parents until the mid-16th century [3]. Two individuals simply needed to agree that they were married, and then they were. Likewise, once they agreed that they were no longer married, they were no longer married. For much of history, marriage was not always the rigid, state-controlled institution that many assume it was. 

Second, during the pre-Industrial Revolution, the average age of marriage for both parties – especially amongst commoners – was typically in the mid-twenties [4]. In fact, between 1500 and 1800 in urban areas, many women didn’t marry until their thirties or even their forties [5]. In the majority of cases, marriage was, as it is now, between two adults. 

Third, the idea of the “traditional wife,” a woman who manages the children and household – basically never existed outside of the 1950s in North America. For most of history, a family was either nobility or peasants. Noble women did not raise their children and certainly did not clean up after anyone—they had servants for that work. In peasant families, every single member of the household worked. Women labored alongside men on farms, in domestic production, and later in factories, making economic dependence the exception rather than the rule.

These misconceptions are rampant but are based on a morsel of reality. Among the nobility, marriage did occur at alarmingly young ages, but these unions were based on power rather then affection. Marriages could be arranged before an individual was born and the of the marriage consummation wouldn’t happen until the late teens or early twenties. After a few children, couples would remained legally married while fulfilling emotional needs with extra martial affairs. This type of marriage applied to roughly 0.5% of the population, yet it has become the standard modern ideal of historical marriage. 

On a side note, if you want to know what people of the past would have actually thought of Game of Thrones–type marriages, look at how they reacted to Lady Margaret Beaufort [6].

Trigger warning:

The following paragraph discuss inequality, sexual assault, and abuse. If you don’t want to wish to read about those subjects, please scroll to the paragraph after. 

Disturbing Facts

Now knowing the reality of historical marriages, its time to see the realities of modern marriages. Although modern marriage has undeniably progressed in terms of legal equality compared to even fifty years ago. In the 1870s, Alabama and Massachusetts made domestic abuse illegal but it wasn’t defined nor prosecuted across all fifty states until the mid 1970s [7]. It wasn’t until l993 that material rape was recognized and made illegal in all fifty states [8]. It wasn’t until 2010 that all fifty states adopted no-fault divorce [9]. Today, under the law, women can divorce their spouses for any reason, and it is illegal for their spouses to assault or abuse them. Despite these laws, 51.1% of all perpetrators of assault committed against women are their intimate partners [10], and one in three murdered women is killed by their husbands, with 1,683 confirmed victims a year.

Modern Marriages

Unfortunately, marital inequalities do not end there. For example: the motherhood penalty. The motherhood penalty is a measurable form of employment and earnings discrimination faced by women who have children. Married women are also affected by this penalty due to the assumption that they will eventually become mothers. In contrast, men experience a “fatherhood bonus,” in which marriage and parenthood increase their earnings and employment opportunities [11].

These inequalities are also reflected in the home. Despite increasing wages and employment, women still are the primary homemakers. When a woman gets married, she will spend an extra three hours a week – 165 extra hours a year -on housework compared to her husband, who will receive three extra hours of leisure [12]. Regardless of either patterns employment status, women also spend more time on childcare [13] and provide more emotional labor in relationships and marriages via emotional comfort, regulation, guidance, and organizing and planning daily tasks [14]. These invisible hours and burdens may be lesser then in decades past, but their continuous existence within marriages remains detrimental to women’s happiness and both emotional and physical health. 

The Potential of Marriage

Marriage, in its simplest form, is a wholesome testament to love. Its history, though messy and at times problematic, reflects its sweet nature despite the misconceptions surrounding it. Today, marriage is nearly as legally equitable as it has ever been. However, by overlooking its current issues and focusing only on the fantasy we hold about historical marriages, we are prohibiting marriage from reaching true full legal, economic, and social equality.

Citations:

1. Cambridge University Architecture Department
   Dyble, Mark. Dr. Mark Dyble | Staff. University of Cambridge Department of Architecture, https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/staff/dr-mark-dyble. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

2. Cambridge University Story Page
   “Monogamy League Table.” Cambridge University, https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/monogamy-league-table. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

3. JSTOR Book Source
   (Assuming this is a book or chapter — since the stable link is given but not the title on the URL, include as below with placeholder title if you want to refine further with author/title.)
   Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book or Chapter. Publisher, Year. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt3fj1mn. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

4. Archive.org — The World We Have Lost
   Clark, Peter. The World We Have Lost: England Before the Industrial Age. Penguin Books, 1994, p. 99. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/TheWorldWeHaveLost/page/n99/mode/2up. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

5. Archive.org — The Marriage History Book
   Coon, Carleton S. The Story of Human Marriage: Its Basis and Development. Harvard University Press, 1954. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/marriagehistoryh0000coon/page/n5/mode/2up. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

6. Wikipedia — Lady Margaret Beaufort
   “Lady Margaret Beaufort.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, 31 Jan. 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Margaret_Beaufort. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

7. National Women’s History Alliance Timeline
   “Detailed Timeline of the Women’s Rights Movement.” National Women’s History Alliance, https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/resources/womens-rights-movement/detailed-timeline/. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

8. Psychology Today Article
   Reynolds, Emma. “Marital Rape Is Criminalized — Not Upheld.” Psychology Today, March 2022, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-games/202203/marital-rape-is-criminalized-not-upheld. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

9. CNN Article
   Hall, Louise. “No-Fault Divorce Explained: History and Wellness.” CNN, 27 Nov. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/27/us/no-fault-divorce-explained-history-wellness-cec. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

10. RAINN Statistics Page
    “Statistics: Perpetrators of Sexual Violence.” RAINN, https://rainn.org/facts-statistics-the-scope-of-the-problem/statistics-perpetrators-of-sexual-violence/. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

11. Demography Journal Article — Duke University Press
    Author Last Name, First Name, and Second Author First Last. “The Accumulation of Economic Disadvantage: The …” Demography, vol. 59, no. 4, 2022, pp. 1377–??. Duke University Press, https://read.dukeupress.edu/demography/article/59/4/1377/315802/The-Accumulation-of-Economic-Disadvantage-The. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

12. NPR Article
    Cohen, Patricia. “Pew: Earnings, Gender Wage Gap, Housework, Chores, Child Care.” NPR, 13 Apr. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/04/13/1168961388/pew-earnings-gender-wage-gap-housework-chores-child-care. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

13. U.S. News Health News Article
    Author Last Name, First Name. “Gender Reveals Data Shows Disparities in Child Care Roles.” U.S. News & World Report, 11 May 2023, https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-05-11/gender-reveals-data-shows-disparities-in-child-care-roles. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

14. BBC Worklife Article
    Smith, Rebecca. “The Hidden Load: How Thinking of Everything Holds Mums Back.” BBC Worklife, 18 May 2021, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210518-the-hidden-load-how-thinking-of-everything-holds-mums-back. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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Observed annually on 11 October, International Day of the Girl is a key global moment on which to celebrate girls everywhere, amplifying their voices, actions and leadership. It is a day that belongs to everyone who cares about girls and their rights. On this day, we come together to recognize and advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights.

This year, 2025, the theme, as shaped by girl-led organizations and networks, is The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis. Learn more about this important day! 

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL, 2016

– – – – – – –

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

No matter where she lives, every girl on this planet deserves the chance to learn and grow, to develop her mind and her talents, and to live a life of her own choosing. Although we have made life significantly better for our daughters than it was for our mothers and grandmothers, in too many parts of the world, girls are still undervalued, disrespected, abused, and prevented from contributing to society. On International Day of the Girl, we recognize our obligation to lift up women and girls at home and abroad and to build a world where all girls feel safe and empowered in their classrooms, their communities, and their homes.

My Administration is committed to combating gender disparities, and through the White House Council on Women and Girls, we have made it a priority to consider the needs of women and girls in our policies, laws, and programs. Today, more American women have the freedom to make their own choices about their lives — about their bodies, their education, their career. The Affordable Care Act has ensured that more girls have access to quality, affordable health care and that no health insurer can charge them more simply because of their gender. By encouraging the media to depict more examples of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields — and by working to expand access to STEM classes and careers, particularly computer science — we are striving to address inequalities in education. We will continue to pursue policies that advance gender equality here at home, from equal pay for equal work to protecting reproductive rights, because while some girls have never had more opportunities, there are still many who remain in the toughest of circumstances.

Under the leadership of Vice President Joe Biden, we are working to put an end to violence against women, and we have launched a movement to fight sexual assault and support survivors. Through the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault and the “It’s On Us” campaign, we are shining a light on the unconscionable rates of sexual assault against teens and young adults in primary and secondary schools and on college campuses. My Administration recently announced new guidance and resources to help district administrators and educators prevent and appropriately deal with sexual assault in K-12 settings. We have also provided guidance to educators on ways to address harassment and discrimination of students in school settings, including transgender girls and women — who too often face bullying and abuse that harm their education. The Department of Justice also released guidance to identify and prevent gender bias in law enforcement responses to sexual assault and domestic violence cases. And because 84 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls will experience some form of violence in their lifetimes, we have protected the ability of tribes to prosecute non-Native perpetrators of domestic violence in Indian Country through provisions included in the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

As we work to expand opportunities here in the United States, we must also look abroad and acknowledge that any country that oppresses half of its population — that prevents women and girls from going to school or work or refuses to give them control over their bodies or safety from gender-motivated abuse — is not a society that can thrive. The ideologies that harm girls and prevent them from fulfilling their potential are the same ideologies that have led countries to instability, violence, and terrorism. That is why earlier this year, we launched the U.S. Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls — a strategy aimed at bringing Federal agencies together to comprehensively improve the lives of girls around the world, safeguard their rights, and encourage their full social, political, and economic participation. To specifically focus on the challenge of adolescent girls’ education, First Lady Michelle Obama and I launched the Let Girls Learn initiative, through which we are working with companies, organizations, and foreign governments to help give adolescent girls around the world the chance to go to school — because a world in which all girls have access to an education is a safer, fairer, and more stable place. The initiative includes more than a billion dollars for funding new and ongoing programming in more than 50 countries to help adolescent girls attend and stay in school. And the White House will soon host the first meeting of the North American Working Group on Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls to champion regional coordination on the rights of women and girls from indigenous communities across North America.

Around the world — from Africa to Southeast Asia to Latin America — we are striving to improve girls’ welfare, build their skills, and promote their participation as the next generation of leaders. We are working to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls in fragile settings as well as support refugees and displaced persons around the world. We are undertaking targeted efforts to address child, early, and forced marriage, and we are investing in new programs, including survivor-led programs, to end female genital mutilation and cutting in seven countries across Southeast Asia and West Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, we are helping adolescent girls pay for and attend school, while ensuring they learn about HIV and violence prevention. We have sponsored “Women in Science” camps in Peru and Rwanda to give girls abroad the opportunity to learn how to use technology to improve their communities. We are also working with Pakistan to advance women’s economic participation and entrepreneurship and launch the country’s first “Take Your Daughter to Work Day.” And we remain committed to ending human trafficking and have taken unprecedented steps to provide comprehensive services to victims, bring traffickers to justice, apply new technologies to combat modern slavery, and provide training and promote awareness at home and abroad.

This summer, 5,000 leaders from around the world gathered at the first ever United State of Women Summit to highlight the work we have done and to build an agenda for the future. But we know there is still more to do, and I have made advancing gender equality a foreign policy priority to ensure we can continue removing barriers that prevent women from reaching their full potential. More than our policies, we must commit to changing the culture that raises our daughters to be demure or criticizes them for speaking out — and to changing the attitude that permits the routine harassment of women and girls, whether walking down the street or going online. We are working with communities and businesses that are rethinking workplace policies, funding women entrepreneurs, expanding female leadership, and creating more opportunities for women and girls who too often face disproportionate challenges — including women and girls of color, women and girls with disabilities, and lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women and girls — because everyone has a role to play and everybody deserves the chance to pursue their dreams.

This is the future we are forging: Where women and girls, no matter what they look like or where they are from, can live free from the fear of violence. A future where all girls know they can hold any job, run any company, and compete in any field. Today, we recommit ourselves to the belief that when everyone has the opportunity to go to school, explore their passions, and achieve their dreams, our communities are stronger, more resilient, and better positioned for peace and prosperity. Let us keep working to build a world that is more just and free — because nothing should stand in the way of strong girls with bold dreams.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 11, 2016, as International Day of the Girl. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and activities that advance equality and opportunity for girls everywhere.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.

BARACK OBAMA

#girlspringpower #Dayofthegirl #obama #itsonus

Article From: The White House

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by Sarah Vice, intern for GirlSpring

I am thankful for women’s rights and for the women who stood up and spoke out in favor of those rights. You always hear people saying to give thanks for the veterans that defend our freedom, which I am thankful. I am eternally grateful to all people who stand up and fight for me. But this does not stop at war veterans. This includes the women in history and today who put their lives or livelihoods at risk just so that we can have equal rights.

I wouldn’t be able to write this post if it were not for a long list of women who fought for freedom of speech, freedom of the press, women’s rights, and a strong sense of leadership. Some honorable mentions are below.

Susan B. Anthony

Some of these names might be familiar to you. That’s good. We can start with the earliest member of the list, Susan B. Anthony. Recently, the midterm elections led a flock of people to leave their “voting” stickers on her memorial stone.

By the age of 17, Anthony was already involved with pushing anti-slavery petitions. She was young, but she knew what was right versus what was wrong. In 1863, she had nearly 400,000 people sign a petition to abolish slavery. In 1866, Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton created the American Equal Rights Association, which boasted freedom for both women and people of color. At the age of 46, Anthony began a newspaper in support of women’s rights.

In 1872, Anthony was arrested for voting. Can you imagine the bravery it would take to risk remaining in jail the rest of your days so that you could have a single vote in an election? But that’s not all it was. It was not just a single vote. It was a vote for womankind and the demand for the right to have a voice. Because of her bravery, I received the right to vote from the legal age of 18. This is one reason why I vote. Because it was not a given, it was a battle to have that right.

Harriet Tubman

The next woman on the list that I am thankful for is Harriet Tubman. This woman was abused from a young age. She legally belonged to someone. If that sentence doesn’t break your heart and enrage you, then you do not deserve her bravery. Tubman broke free of her chains, and instead of moving on with her newfound freedom, she chose to keep coming back for those she loved and eventually other slaves. She didn’t find the time to pity herself. She was so busy saving as many people as she could through the Underground Railroad.

Once the Civil War began, Tubman served as a spy for the United States Army. In doing so, I am sure countless lives were spared and brought free from their bonds. Her courage goes on into fighting for women’s rights. In response to the question of why women should be given the right to vote, Tubman exclaimed that her suffering gave her the right to it. She continued her life in support of women’s activist groups and the suffragist movement.

Clara Barton

The list continues to pattern women of strength and courage. Clara Barton was none too shy of showing the world what women are capable of. She brought the American Red Cross to America in 1864. After years of military nursing experience, it was time for Clara to begin heading a major organization that would later become the largest disaster relief in Northern America. Even now, the name is probably familiar with recent catastrophes or blood drives.

Though Barton’s take on the American Red Cross was dismissed by the belief that her humanitarian efforts would drag the organization down—by a male-dominated board—she resumed trying to memorialize the brave women from the war. She would later create a new foundation that would aid in local relief. It was called the National First Aid Society.

These three women in history are part of a long list of independent thinkers who found a way to give us a better present and future. The list will continue to grow as young girls like yourselves are inspired by the work of others. If something seems hard now, just consider what the reward will be for those who come after you. Be selfless and selfish all the same.

For more like this, check out Women in Civil Rights, Famous Women in History, and Influential Women from the Past Decade.

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Art history usually favors men in the field of art while women don’t share as much of the spotlight.

Women have long had a role in artistic endeavors- whether as collectors or patrons. Young women also face difficulties due to their gender. They may not have access to training places and cannot showcase their work. Another unique facet is that they must deal with the societal and gender implications.

Fun fact: Dibutades is the first well known female artist, tracing an image of mythology.

During the late twentieth century, women entered the art field to the feminist movement. They would purchase artworks, which would later be studied. Goddesses such as Athena and other Greek and Roman mythology incorporate female characters as well. Women have not just been spectators in the art field though.

The classic painting Portia Wounding Her Thigh signifies that women do have value just as much as men. In this painting, a woman is holding an object in front of a mirror. She has the same courage and strength as a man, based on the reflection of several men in the corner.

Another painting that shows the women in male dominated fields is the Nameless and Faceless. This painting depicts a woman not taken seriously as an artist, while men stare at her. There is contempt in the man’s faces, as they are not seeing the painter’s value. 

Surrealism is the form of art that women have dominated the most. And it goes to show that women are not only the objects in the paintings, but can be the painters as well. Just as underrated and diamonds in the rough, female painters can express admirable talent but must bear the gender inequalities.

Learn how bias affects our understanding of history here. Celebrate Women’s History Month with these GirlSpring articles: Women in Civil Rights and Influential Women from the Past Decade.

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By: Makenna Moon

In the tangled threads of societal gaze,

Women stand, caught in the peculiar maze.

Society’s words, like wayward winds, they blow,

In strange whispers that only they know.

“Sweetheart,” they say, with a condescending grin,

Reducing her essence, as if she’s but thin.

Their gaze, a touch too lingering, a stare too long,

Yet she’s told to endure it, to play along.

“Boys will be boys,” they murmur in jest,

As if excuses absolve the words they’ve pressed.

But she feels the weight, the discomfort, the sting,

In the strange language they’re so quick to fling.

“Take it as a compliment,” they chime,

As if she’s meant to savor each unwelcome rhyme.

But beneath the surface, a fire ignites,

A rebellion against these societal rifes.

For what is normal in this twisted charade,

Where woman’s worth is weighted and displayed?

She refuses to accept, to silently acquiesce,

To the strange ways she’s told to address.

In her defiance, a revolution blooms,

A chorus of voices dispelling the gloom.

No more whispers, no more strange refrain,

For in her strength, she finds her domain.

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What is Feminism?

Feminism is a range of social movements, political movements, and ideologies that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that societies prioritize the male point of view, and that women are treated unfairly within those societies. Efforts to change that include fighting gender stereotypes, and seeking to establish educational and professional opportunities for women that are equal to those for men.

What are Feminist Movements?

Feminist movements have campaigned and continue to campaign for women’s rights. This includes the right to vote, to hold public office, to work, to earn fair wages, equal pay and eliminate the gender pay gap. To own property, to receive education, to enter contracts, to have equal rights within marriage, and to have maternity leave. Feminists have also worked to ensure access to legal abortions and social integration, and to protect women and girls from rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. Changes in dress and acceptable physical activity have often been part of feminist movements.

Some scholars consider feminist campaigns to be the main force behind major historical, societal changes for women’s rights, particularly in the West, where they are near-universally credited with achieving women’s suffrage, gender-neutral language, reproductive rights for women, and the right to enter into contracts and own property. Although feminist advocacy is, and has been, mainly focused on women’s rights, some feminists, including bell hooks, argue for the inclusion of men’s liberation within its aims. This is because they believe that men are also harmed by traditional gender roles.

Numerous feminist movements and ideologies have developed over the years and represent different viewpoints and aims. Some forms of feminism have been criticized for taking into account only white, middle class, and college-educated perspectives. This criticism led to the creation of ethnically specific or multicultural forms of feminism, including black feminism and intersectional feminism. 

The Origin of Feminism

The words “féminisme”  and “féministe” first appeared in France and the Netherlands in 1872, Great Britain in the 1890s, and the United States in 1910. The Oxford English Dictionary lists 1852 as the year of the first appearance of “feminist” and 1895 for “feminism”. Depending on the historical moment, culture and country, feminists around the world have had different causes and goals. Most western feminist historians contend that all movements working to obtain women’s rights should be considered feminist movements, even when they did not apply the term to themselves. Other historians assert that the term should be limited to the modern feminist movement and its descendants. Those historians use the label “protofeminist” to describe earlier movements.

The Four Waves of Feminism

The history of the modern western feminist movement is divided into four “waves”. The first comprised of women’s suffrage movements of the 19th and early-20th centuries, promoting women’s right to vote. The second wave, the women’s liberation movement, began in the 1960s and campaigned for legal and social equality for women. In or around 1992, a third wave was identified, characterized by a focus on individuality and diversity. The fourth wave, from around 2012, used social media to combat sexual harassment, violence against women and rape culture; it is best known for the Me Too movement. The history of feminism is certainly a complicated one, that continues to form as our society grows.

Interested in learning more about the history of feminism, check out this article Different Waves of Feminism!

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Interviewee: Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.)
Interviewer: Morgan Durant



People often say that many fashion trends come and go. This is not entirely true, it is better said this way, “Fashion trends come and go, but they always come back.” Fashion is best categorized as a never ending cycle of what’s in and what’s out. It is amazing to see certain styles of clothing be in for one decade and out the next. I like to say that fashion changes like the seasons; however, it’s less predictable. I interviewed Judge Vanzetta Penn McPherson, my grandmother, on what fashion trends were like when she was growing up in the 1950s and 60s. It is intriguing to compare the fashion trends of her teenage/girlhood to the current fashion trends of teenagers today. The most confounding questions in and around the fashion world today are: “How has fashion changed?” and “What trends are coming back and why?”.

The first word Judge McPherson used to describe fashion was “cyclical” (Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.))., which is a word used to describe its movement. It means, “moving in cycles” (“Cyclic”). That is exactly what fashion trends have been doing throughout most of the last century. To say that fashion has gone through a huge change overtime is an inexact statement. The truth is that fashion has been recycling itself over the last 70-80 years. Many fashion trends today reflect fashion trends that were popular in the 1950s-60s. Some of the popular fashion trends included afros, high wedge heel shoes, flair jeans, knee-high boots, canvas bags, etc.. Already this short list showcases items that we see in today’s fashion trends; for instance flair jeans and flair pants in general are especially popular in today’s society.

Differences are also prevalent when comparing today’s teenage fashion to that of the 50s and 60s. Judge McPherson spoke of a distinct difference in jewelry when she was a teenager. She described the jewelry style as going from “heavy” to “light (Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.)). Growing up she wore jewelry that was “heavy” and “wooden”(Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.). This brought in an opportunity for more creatively designed jewelry. The jewelry was more bold than the small delicate jewelry that is worn today. However, despite the fact that jewelry today is not as bold, or distinctive, it still allows people to express themselves through beauty, elegance and style. Sneakers are another distinctive difference in fashion trends. Sneakers have been becoming exceedingly popular since the 70s. They went from being “not in”, to being an everyday shoe for most people.

Economics is also an important factor to consider. In just the last 30 years prices in the U.S. have risen exponentially. Everything is more expensive: clothes, food, houses, transportation, etc. Judge McPherson noticed distinctively that “jeans” were less “expensive” than they are now (Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.)). With clothes in general being more expensive the fashion industry is growing as a whole through individual brands and stores. People are spending more money and buying more clothes to stay up to date with each and every fashion trend. These days sometimes it can feel like trends are beginning to override personal style.

Despite the fact that fashion trends seem to be reappearing in today’s society, the overall look of fashion is still changing. For example, flair jeans today do not look like they did half a century ago. The afro has also evolved from being loose hair that reached for the sky, to now sitting low and hanging off of the head. Fashion is cycling, but not recycling. Each time a trend comes back it has been evolved in some way shape or form by the most recent generation.

Fashion like everything else is changing and developing at an accelerated rate. However, it is just cycling itself throughout different generations. It is crazy to think that in our lifetime fashion trends are coming back from the 50s and 60s which was a different time on so many levels. So next time you ask your parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, etc. “What clothes were in style when you were a kid?” try to compare their answer to the clothes that we wear now, and see what connections you can make.



Bibliography

“—.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyclic.
“Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.)”. Personal Interview. 19 February 2024.

For more on influential women, check out the article: Influential Women From the Past Decade!

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