Women’s History Month first started in 1982 as Women’s History Week and was designated as an official month-long celebration in 1987.  The month was created to not only recognize prominent women who’ve made great societal contributions but also to raise the profile of women everywhere and encourage the current generation to do great things.  It’s a message that’s as timely as ever.

Recent years have seen a Hollywood reckoning—powerful men who’ve used sexual misconduct and abuse to silence and control women have faced steep downfalls.  In the process, women have asserted their power through initiatives like Time’s Up, a legal defense fund that supports victims of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse in the workplace.

The current times remind us of the power of individual women and the collective power of all women when they work together.  But that power extends far beyond fighting a toxic patriarchy.

This Women’s History Month, let’s celebrate women like Gloria Steinem, a journalist, activist, and feminist who has been on the frontlines fighting for women’s rights since the 1960s.  She has been an active force in the last two years’ Women’s Marches, and she recently joined an advisory board at VICE to help stop workplace harassment. 

Let’s celebrate Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist who was nearly murdered by the Taliban.  Her mission is to educate women and girls and arm them with the tools to succeed.  At just 17 years old, she became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history.

Let’s also celebrate entrepreneurs and inventors like Joy Mangano, who created the Miracle Mop, and whose inspirational story inspired a 2015 biopic.

Whether it’s social activism, business, or entertainment, women are leading change in society and have done so for centuries.  This Women’s History Month, let’s take the time to properly recognize them.