In 1987, the United States Congress passed Public Law 100-9 designating March as Women’s History Month. Each year, the U.S. celebrates the roles and recognize the achievements made by women in America, as well as discuss what progress still needs to be made in order to create a f
uture of equality. As the world and the ideals of people progress, the need for equality and equity among all human beings continues to grow in prominence. However, the impact from lack of representation continues to linger today. Zoe Stefanec, co-leader of the Women in Business Club, explained her thoughts on representation for women’s success.
“I think it’s important because women have done so much in the past. 100 years of fighting for rights, and finally, now finally getting representation. And it’s super important because some people don’t realize how much women have impacted the world,” Stefanec said. “I think that sometimes men, the stuff that they find out overshadows what women have done.”
Representation for women in American politics began 105 years ago on Aug. 18, 1920. On this day, the United States Congress ratified the 19th Amendment. The amendment states,
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
After years of fighting for suffrage, this win was largely impactful to the women’s rights movement and served as a stepping stone for the continued growth of women’s roles in America. Incremental change continues, and the efforts made for equality and equity for American women have grown, but in 2025 there are still gaps in the movement. Maylin Trydahl, social media manager and co-president of the Women in Business Club, explained what she feels the issue is in the governmental system.
“I feel like there were a lot of women believing in Kamala [Harris] and hoping she was the same as Hillary Clinton. They were both breaking barriers and trying to fight for having a woman president. I feel like it’s needed, but it’s just really hard to break what’s already happened for over 100 years,” Trydahl said.
248 years after the United States was founded, the country has yet to have a female head of state. In fact, Hillary Clinton became the first woman to ever receive a presidential nomination from a major political party in 2
016. Breaking stereotypes in political positions related to gender has been a notoriously difficult issue in American history. Only in the last 30 years has the United States welcomed its first female Secretary of State, Speaker of the House and Vice President.
Career stereotyping affects not just high government officials, but women across the nation. Even in schools, how staff members are viewed impacts how they are treated in their positions, jobs, and even everyday life.
“I feel like for a teacher, you always imagine it being a sweet lady. When you imagine a stereotypical business person, you think of a man in a suit,” Trydal said.
Yet, even with constant stereotyping, Women’s History Month opens up a time to seek out women who break down barriers and advance social progress.
Celeste Gamble, executive director of New Directions Career Center, a local nonprofit in Columbus that focuses on helping women achieve financial stability through empowerment explained her take on finding good role models for young women.
“Modeling behavior is a really big thing, and I think it depends on what teen girls want to achieve. But I think they should be looking at women in terms of independence, grit and determination,” Gamble said.
Most of the time, the best role models in life don’t need to be an influencer or a popstar.
“You don’t have to go very far most of the time to be able to find those models for who you should be looking up to,” Gamble observed.
Sometimes the best role models are the ones closest, a mother, bestfriend, sister or teacher. Taking character traits from one another is an ideal that can better inform decisions in the future, and also help form bonds with those the trait is taken from.
“My mom, she was also in the business industry, and she was very successful in it. So I look up to her. She had a lot of male CEOs that she had to prove herself that she was worthy of working at the place that she did,” Stefanec shared. “Also my business teacher, Mrs. Versatchi, she has inspired me a lot. It’s made me realize that I want to pursue business in the future,”
This year, as citizens of the U.S. celebrate Women’s History Month, the landscape for the future of women’s rights is changing. During the last two years of the recent election cycle,the conversation has been focused on the rights of individuals and how those rights affect others. However, keeping loved ones close and striving to be the best to the capabilities instilled in each separate person, may provide the bubble of air needed to push through.
