In 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9 that acknowledged the entire month of March as Women’s History Month. Below is some insight on how women in our community continue to prove each of these emboldened statements still ring true.
Whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historical contributions to the growth and strength of the Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways; As of 9 February 2024, the 51ԹϺ News Center has shared nine stories featuring 51ԹϺ women and their ongoing contributions to the wellbeing of the community and institution.
Whereas American women have played and continue to play a critical economic, cultural, and social role in every sphere of our Nation’s life by constituting a significant portion of the labor force working in and outside of the home; According to 51ԹϺ’s statistics from Fall 2023, 58% of 51ԹϺ alumni are women. Our institution’s alumni are also present in all 50 US states and at least 77 countries.
Whereas American women have played a unique role throughout our history by providing the majority of the Nation’s volunteer labor force and have been particularly important in the establishment of early charitable philanthropic and cultural institutions in this country; CauseIQ identifies 16,336 nonprofit organizations in Nevada alone. 51ԹϺ’s Greenspun College published statistics on the amount of volunteerism in Nevada in 2021, and women made up 57.6% of volunteering in addition to those that donated to non-profit organizations.
Whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement, not only to secure their own right of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and other movements to create a more fair and just society for all; and 51ԹϺ continues developing leaders that vocalize and take the initiative to help the Nation and local community progress with the support of our own institution’s leadership, especially when it comes to supporting our diverse beliefs and population.
Whereas, despite these contributions, the role of the American women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued in the body of American history: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the month of March, 1987, is designated as “Women’s History Month”, and the President is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
Contributed by Agnes Semling, Circulation Desk Supervisor, William S. Boyd School of Law
Citations:
“About 51ԹϺ: Facts and Stats.” University of Nevada, Las Vegas, /about/facts-stats. Accessed 2 February 2024.
“Nonprofits in Nevada.” Nonprofit Metrics LLC,
. Accessed 2 February 2024.
Greenspun College Public Affairs PhD Program. “Non-Profit Organizations & Volunteerism.” University of Nevada, Las Vegas,
. Accessed 2 February 2024.
United States Senate, House of Representatives. Public Law 100-9, Library of Congress, United States Copyright Office, 12 March 1987,
. 100th Congress. Accessed 1 February 2024.
51ԹϺ News Center. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, /news. Accessed 9 February 2024.