In March 2020, International Women's History Month is Defined by Phenomenal Women

posted on: Mar 4, 2020

By: Leila Diab/Arab America Contributing Writer

“A successful woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her.”

–Unknown

This March 2020, international acknowledgment of women’s courageous, brave, and exceptional standards of deep moral, ethical, artistic, and educational convictions will be illuminated worldwide.

For an immemorial time, women have been the rock-solid backbone figures in all realms of society, irrespective of many male-dominated societies, unjust refugee mental instability, and political edicts which attempts to stagnate their dreams of human life. However, women have often shown that from where ever there is oppression, there is enduring resistance for change. Case in point, Saudi Arabian women sought equality and equal preservation under the law and won the right to drive.

The observance of women and their achievements worldwide began in 1975, during International Women’s Year.  The United Nations began celebrating 8 March as International Women’s Day. For the United Nations, International Women’s Day has been observed on 8 March since 1975. The Day is traditionally marked with a message from the UN Secretary-General as well as countless world leaders and organizations worldwide.

Then in 1987, the United States Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women.

As we look back, it is a time to acknowledge, honor and pay special tribute to women of color and Arab women who so often remained hidden figures in their accomplishments in the sciences, arts, humanities, and business sectors.  One such woman was Katherine Johnson, a woman of pride, and one of the most unique mathematical minds who calculated the precise trajectories that would let Apollo 11 land on the moon in 1969.  This was an amazing African American woman and for over 33 years, no one ever knew her name.  Katherine Johnson will always shine bright and be long remembered with respect and human dignity as an unsung hero for her NASA contributions.

Truly, a phenomenal woman.

Phenomenal Woman

By Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,   

The stride of my step,   

The curl of my lips.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,   

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,   

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.   

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.   

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,   

And the flash of my teeth,   

The swing in my waist,   

And the joy in my feet.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered   

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,   

They say they still can’t see.   

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,   

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.   

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,   

The bend of my hair,   

the palm of my hand,   

The need for my care.   

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

And there are many untold stories of Middle Eastern women’s organizations who continue to improve health services from over 18 countries represented at the United Nations ESCWA (economic, social commission for western Asia) had been comprised include Western Asia: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Also, a UN Palestinian observer, Riyad Mansour, serving the needs of women and Palestinians in the diaspora.

In this women’s history month, there are countless women who will no longer be hidden figures, yet hardly exposed in the mainstream or international media. On February 18, 2020, “UN Women’s Regional Office for the Arab States, in collaboration with UN Women Country Offices in Iraq, Libya, and Yemen, organized a two-day meeting Women and Young People in Peace Processes: Synergies and Cross-learning, funded by the Government of Germany. The meeting was held in Beirut, Lebanon and sought to provide a space for inter-generational dialogue between women and young people from countries affected by the conflict in the MENA region, to exchange strategies that have been utilized to mitigate conflict, to broker dialogue and influence track 1 peace processes in the region. Through this exchange and dialogue, the meeting sought to identify opportunities for strategic alliances and to define common demands. “

Through the united teamwork efforts of women in urban, rural areas in their communities, women in every sphere of human activity offer a litany of empowerment for change of the human spirit and soul.

Constantly, Middle Eastern women’s organizations continue to reach out to The World Health Organization (WHO) a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with world public health. It was established on April 7, 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group of which many Arab women nongovernmental organizations work together to make a difference in the lives of the disenfranchised and the educational/economically deprived families and children in war-torn, occupational areas in the world today.

As a united team of international sisterhood professionals, artists and humanitarian activists, women in the Arab world and beyond continue to overcome the challenges to improve marginalized societies, the Middle East refugee crisis, and the dire human rights wall of injustice to life.

March International Women’s month is a time to salute the untold inspirational hidden stories of women with respect and also honor their strength and courage to dream of human life as they look forward to making a difference for future generations of women doctors, lawyers, artists, business owner, professors, and educators.

The film documentary SOUFRA portrays how a refugee woman struggles first as a mother and then learns to do her best to raise other refugees’ moral life and to encourage them to achieve self- worthwhile living in a refugee camp. Albeit, to save her life and the life of others.

March, International history month is a phenomenal time to stand up and salute women all over the world for their relentless desire to dream the dream of everlasting security, freedom, and universal human rights. Global Phenomenal women live on.

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