March 8th is International Women’s Day (IWD). It’s a day that honors the amazing contributions that women have made in the past, continue to make in the present, and will make in the future.

“It commemorates the movement for women’s rights.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women’s_Day)

As a matter of fact, the IWD campaign theme for 2017 is #BeBoldForChange.  It calls for a world where everyone is equal.  It encourages a greater change for women in their lives, work, and in society as a whole.

It’s no secret that women around the world are becoming the providers for their families. Furthermore, women all across the country are celebrating the achievements that they have made.  They are encouraging the actions needed to ensure that the value of men and women are equal.

We have all seen inspiring movies about strong women; whether it is in the workforce or choosing her own path in life.  From The Iron Lady, the story about Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female Prime Minister, to Joy, a film based on the life of Joy Mangano who invented a miracle broom, women have proved themselves able to stand up against even the biggest obstacles.

The movie, Hidden Figures, shined a light on the achievements of a team of African-American women who worked as mathematicians at NASA. Additionally, each woman was integral in NASA’s Space Race against the Soviet Union in the 20th century.  This film has led Lego to propose an idea of making a Lego set of “Women of NASA”.

In addition, this set will include five women pioneers of NASA who “struggled to gain acceptance in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)”.

The five Women of NASA are:

1) Margaret Hamilton, computer scientist: While working at MIT under contract with NASA in the 1960s, Hamilton developed the on-board flight software for the Apollo missions to the moon. She is known for popularizing the modern concept of software.

2) Katherine Johnson, mathematician and space scientist: A longtime NASA researcher, Johnson is best known for calculating and also verifying trajectories for the Mercury and Apollo programs — including the Apollo 11 mission that first landed humans on the moon.

3) Sally Ride, astronaut, physicist, and educator: A physicist by training, Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. After retiring as a NASA astronaut, she founded an educational company focusing on encouraging children — especially girls — to pursue the sciences.

4) Nancy Grace Roman, astronomer: One of the first female executives at NASA, Roman is known to many as the “Mother of Hubble” for her role in planning the Hubble Space Telescope. She also developed NASA’s astronomy research program.

5) Mae Jemison, astronaut, physician, and entrepreneur: Trained as a medical doctor, Jemison became the first African-American woman in space in 1992. Further, after retiring from NASA, Jemison established a company that develops new technologies and encourages students in the sciences.

In fact, the struggles that women around the world have undergone for the rights and equality they deserve are real. Educate yourself about the achievements and accomplishments of the many “overlooked and underappreciated” women in history.  Learn about the struggles women have faced regarding harassment, violence, and inequality.  Know why International Women’s Day is important.  And most importantly…Celebrate it…however you see fit!!

International Women’s Day Logo courtesy of https://www.internationalwomensday.com/