Wednesday Open Thread: Women's History Month

History is written by the winners.

We see this time and time again in American history. As a former teacher, I was keenly aware that the stories our textbooks told were done in exactly this manner. The books would elevate larger-than-life figures and downplay their flaws. They would ooze patriotism and ignore the oppressed. They would make sweeping generalizations like "slavery was bad," and would then proceed to use euphemisms to describe the horrors of the practice. At a formative time in many a child's life, we as teachers were forced to sugarcoat and ignore the dark and disturbing parts of American history, while simultaneously making sure what we did teach didn't rock the boat too much by disrupting the status quo. In short, we were expected to enlighten the next generation by providing a censored version of our history, one where students left the class feeling informed but not inspired. 

And that is why women are so terribly underrepresented in the annals of American history. 

The truth is that America is a nation founded by White men for White men only. In our nation's Constitution, slaves are 3/5 of a person, and women aren't even mentioned. Gender inequality is a theme for the United States throughout its history. No woman has been president, despite two obviously qualified women running in the past decade. Only 64 women have ever been senators. Women could not vote until 1920, and could not apply for credit cards in their own names until 1974. Gender pay inequity is still an issue, as women today make 83 cents for every man's dollar. American women athletes dominate on the international stage, yet even some of the biggest names in their sports are forced to compete in the off-season to make ends meet. And in Hollywood, even famous actresses have to fight to get a slice of the pie, and ageism makes it impossible for older women to have the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

Yet, despite all these barriers, women continue to achieve victories and inspire the next generation. As a father to a young daughter, I am in awe of just how many stories there are of women who overcame a system committed to keeping them from succeeding. What I enjoy most about Women's History Month is hearing these stories that were intentionally omitted from our history books. Countless women are more than hidden figures; they are integral to the success of the very fabric of our society. Their stories have long been repressed for fear of them one day actually making their way into our history books. While our textbooks are still woefully man-centered, having resources like the ones below serves as a reminder that women are and will continue to be the backbone of this country. Black women are the base of the modern Democratic Party. And it is women, not men, who are consistently showing up at town meetings, marches, and political campaigns, proving that they are the ones most invested in retaking our country from the GOP. At a time when hope is hard to find, women are the ones continuing to inspire against all odds, and are doing it despite a country ruled by a misogynistic patriarchy that would like nothing better than to keep them in their place. Their stories should be shared year-round and not only in the month of March. 

This is your Women's History Month open thread.