“Women’s History Month is celebrating all kinds of women. I think that it makes people feel seen, heard and valued, which is a thing that a lot of [the] time women in this world aren’t,” said Avila Hurd, a senior at Ida B. Wells High School and leader of the Students Active for Ending Rape (SAFER) club. “It’s really important to look at that.”
According to the National Women’s History Museum, Women’s History Month began as a celebration in Santa Rosa, California. This local celebration soon became a designated week in 1978 after activism by the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women. Women’s History Week quickly spread across the United States.
In 1980, after lobbying led by the National Women’s History Project, now called the National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA), Women’s History Week was nationally recognized. Jimmy Carter was the first president to issue a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week.
After Carter, many presidents continued to issue proclamations of National Women’s Week, but after 1987, legislation was passed to make March Women’s History Month. Each president has declared March as Women’s History Month since 1955.
The NWHA establishes a theme each year for Women’s History Month, with 2025 as “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” which focuses on and celebrates the impact of women in education, mentorship and leadership.
In the Portland community, there are countless ways to live this March in honor of Women’s History Month — and for the entire year. Following are a few female-led spaces you can support this March and every moment after.
Women’s sports and athletics are ever-growing, and this is no different at IBW. March 3 marked the beginning of high school spring sports at IBW where softball, women’s track and field, women’s lacrosse, women’s tennis and women’s golf are offered.
“I hope that we can continue to grow the women’s lacrosse program at Wells and encourage more girls to come out and try the sport,” said Mimi Fitzpatrick, an IBW senior and women’s lacrosse player. “If we keep gaining more support, I think that the program will continue to become a place where girls can gain confidence and feel like a part of the community.”
“What I love about our team is that we all support each other completely and build each other up and my hope is that more girls will get to experience that,” said Fitzpatrick.
All schedules for women’s sports at IBW can be found on osaa.org.
In addition, IBW offers a Women in Sports club. They meet every other Monday at lunch in room 18. The Women in Sports club provides a space for female athletes to connect and build community. “This month especially, we want our club to be a place for girls in sports to go, feel supported and know that there are other people in the same position,” said Jane Musho, an IBW sophomore and leader of the Women in Sports club. Learn more about the Women in Sports Club on Instagram @ibw_wisc.
Portland is also home to the nation’s first women’s sports bar, The Sports Bra. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., The Sports Bra’s mission “is to make great food, delicious drinks, and provide a space that supports, empowers, and promotes girls and women in sports in the community.” All the latest women’s sports can be viewed when you visit.
SAFER is another club offered at IBW, which educates, advocates and works toward sexual violence prevention. They meet every other Wednesday in room 35. “SAFER is about making a safe environment in general — and that applies to both females, males, non-binary [people], everybody — but especially this month, it’s for women,” said Hurd. “We work to support people who maybe don’t have the support of the laws that are in place and the system that is not set up for people who aren’t very protected by [it].” Learn more about SAFER on Instagram @safteribwhs.
Additionally, there are many local, female-owned businesses throughout southwest Portland. Hoot-N-Annie, Opal Blooms and Baker & Spice are only a few of the female-owned businesses in the Hillsdale shopping center. All businesses in Hillsdale can be viewed here.
In Multnomah Village, there are female-owned businesses such as Mad Sass Soap Co., The Butterfly Effect and Sarah Bellum’s Bakery. A global list of businesses in Multnomah Village can be found here.
“Women’s History Month doesn’t mean that we’re not seeing other people,” said Hurd. “It’s a month to shine a light on women and their accomplishments throughout history because that is something that hasn’t been very prevalent.”
“Take an interest in the women in your life and celebrate their achievements,” said Fitzpatrick. “It goes a long way when women are acknowledged for the impacts that they have [made] and making an effort to uplift the women in your life [also].”
