Celebrating the Past and Present of Women’s History Month
Since 1987, March has been designated as Women's History Month to acknowledge women's contributions to American history and to honor the women who laid the framework for us to succeed in the future.
The road to Women's History Month started with President Jimmy Carter, who declared the week of March 2-8, 1980, as National Women's History Week. In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women's History Project, Congress took it a step further and designated the month of March as "Women's History Month."
Diane Curry, the Executive Director and Curator for the Hayward Area Historical Society, is very passionate about helping others remember these contributions from local women in the form of stories. She works to uncover and reinterpret stories of women who may not have gotten the recognition and attention they deserved. She states that stories of the "firsts" aren't the main focus but rather the stories of "average" women.
"I think people want to hear about the widow who took over the family's salt production business, the woman who ran her own successful poultry farm, or the local women who started a landscaping school," Curry said. "These stories are just as important to understanding and learning from the past."
Stories of past local women, including Kimiko "Kimi" Fujii Kitayama, Rachel Hayward, and Ruth Rodgers are shared on the Society's webpage.
Fujii Kitayama was one of six children from Hayward's famous Fuji Nursery. Her family was sent to internment camps during WWII. She used her passion for the community by becoming a leader in the state's Democratic Committee. She was the first woman and first Japanese-American to serve on the Alameda-Contra Costa District Transit Board and was later elected president for two terms.
Hayward was the wife of city founder William Hayward. She oversaw the major renovations and expansions and cultivated a welcoming atmosphere. She is lovingly considered the "Mother of Hayward."
Rogers was the first woman to serve on the Hayward City Council in 1922. She emphasized improving public health issues and was reelected in 1926.
Curry urges everyone to learn about these women because she doesn't "feel that women's history has been taught at all in history classes. That they are side characters but not often if ever, the main focus of a history topic in school."
A more contemporary example of a woman making a difference in the community is Parvin Ahmadi, the first female Superintendent of Castro Valley Unified School District, marking her 34th year in education.
Ahmadi reflects on Women's History, and the strides women are making today. She says we must acknowledge that they continue to be significantly underrepresented in many facets of society, including education. She emphasized that about 75 percent of the nation's K-12 educators are women, yet when it comes to superintendents, only 24 percent are women.
Overall, Ahmadi emphasizes that "It's important for me to listen, learn and to lead with others," and as we celebrate Women's History, we should all adopt that too.
In acknowledgment of Women's History Month, the Castro Valley Unified School District recently adopted a resolution to engage students in the discussions in March and beyond. The Board noted that learning about women's history is essential to a well-rounded education.
The Hayward Area Historical Society Museum is closed for in-person visits now, but you can find out more about the women who shaped the East Bay at their website. (haywardareahistory.org/)