March is Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 8. With the pandemic throwing our world into a tailspin, being carried out on the backs of essential workers, women have dominated the ranks.
Not only were women essential to the pandemic response they also take some of the highest positions here at Kirkwood Community College, leading the institution with grace and dedication through the pandemic, like President Dr. Lori Sundberg who is the college’s first female president.
This year’s theme for Women’s History Month is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” It seems a timely theme, after the last two years of living through a pandemic. We should take a step back and look at what women have done over the last two years.
Focusing on the work of women providing healing in our hospitals as we fight COVID-19, is not to say we are not thankful for the men working in medical fields, because we are just as grateful for their hard work.
Other women risked their health and well-being as essential workers in the grocery stores and other essential establishments across the country as we braved a new unknown world, never getting a day off to even think about it.
We should also take time to be grateful for women like Marie Curie whose work on x-rays made it possible for broken bones to be easily treated, Florence Nightingale who revolutionized nursing and Harriet Tubman who helped rescue people from slavery. In the United States we have a lot to be grateful for, even though women still have struggles to overcome.
This year, as we celebrate women’s history and achievements, consider donating to a charity or volunteering time at a place that benefits women in need.
Let’s work together as community to help women overcome adversity. Students can go through their clothing and donate to a women’s shelter, help young women register to vote or simply openly recognize the efforts of the women with whom they work.
Categories: Opinion, Staff Editorials
