En Familia, March 2023
Women’s History Month began as a single week (the week of 7 March 1982, as authorized and requested by Congress), becoming a month-long observance in 1987. Year after year, this is a time to acknowledge and celebrate all the contributions of women to our nation and our world. Women throughout history have been a force of change and transformation. Most of that impact has been minimized or ignored during most periods of our recorded history. Every Women’s History Month observance is a new opportunity to change this narrative and share the real stories.
The theme for 2023 is Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories. The National Women’s History Alliance, the organization that advocated establishing this observance, picked that theme and explained how “From the earliest storytellers through pioneering journalist, our experiences have been captured by a wide variety of artists and teachers. These include authors, songwriters, scholars, playwrights, performers, and grandmothers throughout time.”
In previous En Familia messages, we have discussed the importance of sharing our stories and the impact of active listening in interpersonal interactions. Considering this theme, we celebrate all the women who have taken the creative and innovative role of communicating the stories and narratives of women worldwide with courage and determination. Many names come to mind, particularly powerful trailblazers that have changed our Sea Services in the last few decades.
Building platforms for women to continue sharing their stories and narratives for themselves and on behalf of other women is an effort that demands intentionality and advocacy. ANSO keeps developing spaces for these narratives, particularly Latinas’ stories, to be known, shared, and publicized. These stories provide encouragement and strength to new generations of leaders and visionaries.
During this month’s celebration, stop, connect, and listen to some of these stories. Many organizations offer platforms and spaces for voices to speak loudly and clearly. Stories transcend boundaries creating common languages of resilience and connection.
We celebrate all women and what they bring to the fight!