Women’s History Month

March celebrates Women’s History month in the United States to recognize the achievements and contributions of women to the history of America. This year’s theme America celebrates “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope”. The theme celebrates the work of caregivers and frontline workers during the pandemic. Additionally, recognition of the different ways cultures provide healing and optimism throughout history.

At Sierra Vista High School women bring positive achievements. The undefeated volleyball team, the remarkable Dynasty dance team, all the women’s sports and clubs, the women staff all support the impact women make at SVHS.

Women’s history did not always receive a month dedicated to all the great accomplishments women make. The history of the month began with the National Women’s History Project, now known as the National Women’s History Alliance, urging for national recognition, and succeeded. Then, in 1980 President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week. March became Women’s History Month 1987 when public law 100-9 was passed by Congress for the years 1988 through 1994. In 1994 Congress passed requests to the President, and every president since 1995 proclaims March as Women’s History Month.

Women create many great milestones in history: After decades of unfair laws against women the nineteenth amendment finally endorsed. In 1920 women earned the right to vote. Surprising society, Ameilia Earheart was the second person to fly across the Atlantic alone in 1932. Even Watson and Crick’s discovery of the structure and the molecules of DNA could not have been possible without the first X-ray image of DNA made in 1952 by Rosalind Franklin. Without a doubt, Rosa Parks advocated the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Civil Rights Movement by not giving into racist laws. Rosa Parks did not give up her seat to a white man on the bus in 1955. Recently in 2021, Kamala Harris became the first woman of color vice-president. She blazed a trail and inspired the hopes of young women across the globe.

A notable SVHS alumni, Sophia O. Omidiji played for the women’s Nigerian soccer team. Omidiji was born June 18, 1997. Lateef Omidiji, a Nigerian who lives in Las Vegas with Crystal, his American wife, adopted her. At SVHS Omidiji broke records which caught college scout’s attention, and she started to represent the youth women’s Nigerian soccer team. During a 2015 interview with Goal, Omidiji believes she represents a “hard worker who has a track record of winning”. The interviewer also asked who her female Nigerian soccer player idol is. Omidji replies, claiming she admires “Mercy Akide”. Akide formerly played for the Nigerian soccer team. Omidiji mentions her for being “amazing” and “a legend”. Omidiji supports other women opponents and respects “those that paved the way” for new generations.