Girl Power: Where to Celebrate Women’s History Month in Westchester

3/2/17 - By Susan Miele

If the recent women’s marches are any testament, girl power is alive and well, and women and girls across the country are fired up. Perfect timing: March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the many women throughout history who helped break gender barriers and fight for independence, respect and privileges. Westchester families have much to celebrate, and we’ve helped identify ways to do so.

It was in New York that Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton launched their movement in support of women’s suffrage around the turn of the 20th century. And whereas the U.S. will celebrate the centennial of the 19th amendment in 2020, our own local centennial is happening right now, as New York State granted women the right to vote in 1917.

Various Westchester venues are staging celebrations by showcasing some stellar female role models—from computer programmers to first ladies, educators to survivors (and even a chess champion)—all to honor our predecessors and to inspire younger girls to make their own mark.

Now grab your daughters and sons and head out to any and all of these Women’s History Month programs. These are designed to model strong contributions to society and relentless determination. Visit our Event Calendar for more details and many more ways to inspire your children.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Extraordinary Women Film Series – New Rochelle
Thursdays, March 2, 16, 30, 2017
This annual tradition continues with a different inspiring film on each of three nights, all of which showcase the impressive contributions of select women in history. One film tells the story of an army of women who combated wide-spread illiteracy; another tells of a Ugandan corn seller who pursues chess on an international scale. The third evening of biographical film recounts the contributions of women in computer and internet technology. All are FREE.

Celebrate International Women's History Day - Yonkers
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Get inspired by stories of female inventors at this FREE program.

Women's History Month Event – Mount Vernon
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Celebrate the lives of three prominent women in history with a presentation about Westchester heroine Anne Hutchinson and a dance performance evoking her, Eleanor Roosevelt and Abigail Adams--all of whom have historic ties with this historic landmark. FREE

Little Women - Yonkers
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Written by a woman, directed by a woman and telling the tale of five brave women surviving a harsh Civil War winter while the man of the house was away fighting, Little Women remains as beloved in 2017 as when the novel was written by Louisa May Alcott in 1868. (Additional films celebrating women are planned throughout the month at this theater, though the others are generally targeted for older audiences.)

Suffragette - Katonah
Friday, March 24, 2017
This 2015 film takes viewers back to 1920s England in a historical account of the women’s suffrage movement on the other side of the pond.

Women's History Month - Yonkers
Monday, March 27, 2017
Inspiring stories, followed by related craft activities, are planned for this tribute. FREE 

Celebrate Women's History Month - Tarrytown
Monday, March 27, 2017
Hear the story Ada Twist, Scientist, a fictional work inspired by real-life STEM champions like Ada Lovelace, as well as Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music, a story about breaking gender stereotypes, followed by an interactive activity. FREE

Ongoing

The Katonah Village Library is also the host site of Votes for Women: Celebrating New York’s Suffrage Centennial, a photo exhibit on loan from the New York State Museum in Albany. An opening reception will take place Friday, March 3, at 6:30 pm, and a screening of Iron Jawed Angels will follow. All events are FREE.

In addition to the above events, another way to celebrate Women’s History Month locally is to visit Val-Kill, the Hudson Valley home of Eleanor Roosevelt, who lived in Hyde Park in her later years. Operating hours are limited in March, but weekend tours are available on a timed schedule. Fourth graders enjoy FREE admission, courtesy of the federal Every Kid in a Park program.

Photo credit: Pixabay