With March coming to a close, not many women are planning on letting their fiery and passionate pursuits of equal rights sizzle out. In fact, most have been inspired by the momentous feats of women through history celebrated during this year’s Women’s History Month, an official observance of strong women and their achievements.

In 1987, Congress declared March to be Women’s History Month to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of women that had been otherwise invalidated. Before then, many of the influential and groundbreaking achievements women had made throughout history were even limited as studies in school textbooks! Although it seemed as though the celebratory observance had since declined in importance, 2017’s Women’s History Month has seen a significant revival of the defiant and perseverant spirit of women in spite of the difficulties they face even today. Presumably sparked by the events and debates of the last few months, women have been standing up for their rights as demonstrated during the worldwide Women’s March on Washington where sums of men, woman, and children protested against sexism and advocated for human and civil rights.

The national acknowledgement of women has proven to be a controversial subject over the years – especially under the current administration’s doubtful stance on women’s issues. While many women approve of the observance because it asserts that they don’t need to have the support of men to be successful, others believe only being allowed a limited time to be proud of being a member of the female “species” is more harmful and marginalizing. Then, of course, there are some who disapprove of women celebrating themselves because, somehow, only they can determine whether they’re worth anything. The purpose of Women’s History Month, however, is to remind women of their potential and to believe in themselves despite the difficulties history has brought to pass. The odds have always been against women, making every action they make a feat in itself. The combination of such views are most likely the reason for continued delays in action to assist women in becoming finally economically, politically, and socially equal to men. Until then, we’ll continue to admire the power and ability of women and allow it to inspire us in the pursuit of well-deserved justice and equality.