Throughout history, many courageous women have defended themselves by speaking up for their rights in a society dominated by men and unfair laws. Women’s History Month, which is celebrated in the month of March, serves as a way to honor the women who have and continue to contribute to events in the past and present.

Officially founded in 1981, Women’s History Month was actually only week-long. It was not until 1995 that women’s history was recognized for the full month.

Jane Austen, Rosa Parks and Serena Williams are just some of the remarkable women in our history who deserve recognition.

Going back about two centuries ago, Jane Austen was an 18th-century English writer who highlighted the reliance of women on marriage in an effort to achieve social acceptance and financial stability. She was an early feminist whose famous novels, including “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Stability” and “Becoming Jane,” have withstood the test of time and were so popular that they were turned into major motion pictures.

Another notable woman was American activist Rosa Parks, who is most commonly known for being a key role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott when she refused to let a white man occupy her seat in a segregated bus. This kickstarted the civil rights movement in the mid-20th century. However, she is much more than just a Black woman on a segregated bus, but rather “the first lady of civil rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement.” Her courage and tenacity were the reasons why the United States Congress honored her with those titles.

Out of the three women mentioned, only former American professional tennis player Serena Williams is still alive today. She is considered one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, but is much more than just an athlete. She was constantly being criticized for her muscular body and endured countless years of racist and sexual attacks. But she did not let these remarks affect her and, instead, often spoke out about body image and being a Black woman in sports. Williams uses her experience and hardships to inspire other young female athletes to succeed.

Sophomore Lily Henry shares why Anne Frank, a German-born Jewish diarist who documented her experience living in hiding under Nazi persecution, is her favorite woman in history.

“I am Jewish and Anne Frank was marginalized for being a Jew,” says Lily Henry. “When she was sent away to concentration camp, she…survived for a really really long time and she was like a really young girl…and I think it was amazing that she was able to keep her hopes up for so long. She has probably also helped a lot of other people [too].”

There are many courageous, ambitious and resilient women in our world’s history. It is important to recognize their accomplishments and how they have influenced the next generation of young women to act and stand up for their rights.