Your Year of Making History: Girl Scouts Celebrate Women’s History Month
February 22, 2024
“The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.” - Girl Scout Handbook, 1913
Women have been making history since—well, since we started keeping track! From Susan B. Anthony to Amanda Gorman, women have made world-changing contributions to politics, science, technology, education, the arts, and so much more through the years. Equally inspiring are the girls and women in each of our lives taking steps toward a brighter future by uplifting their local communities.
That’s where Girl Scouts come in (though Girl Scout alums like Taylor Swift, Madeleine Albright, Dr. Sally Ride, Venus Williams, and many others have certainly become household names)! Here are just some of the ways we’re celebrating Women’s History Month this year—and making history of our own.
While we remember the countless female historical figures who transformed our lives, we’re also celebrating 112 years of Girl Scouts! Each year on March 12, we remember Juliette Gordon Low, our founder, and her first troop of 18 Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia. Back in 1912, many girls did not know the power of their own voice. Society often told them to focus on “being ladylike” and “practicing manners” instead of exploring their world and dreaming big. Juliette Low believed that girls could do anything if they simply entertained their curiosity and challenged society’s belief that girls were inferior to boys.
At a time when women in the United States couldn’t even vote, encouraging girls to embrace their unique strengths and create their own opportunities was game-changing. That small gathering of girls over a century ago ignited a movement across America where every girl could unlock her full potential, find lifelong friends, and make the world a better place.
We’ve made great strides toward gender equality since then, but we still have work to do to bring a girl-led future to life. Statistics show that girls are in a confidence crisis.
In fact, seven in 10 girls believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way and 98%—nearly all—of girls feel immense pressure to look a certain way. These numbers are deeply troubling, but we can work together to make a difference. This year, we’re asking Girl Scouts to come as they are and embrace what makes them unique. We want to see girls being their bold, funny, athletic, independent, and trailblazing selves—and we don’t want to see them asking for permission first.
We’re taking to social media to bring this turning point to life. This month, we’re challenging girls to compliment each other’s curiosity, kindness, creativity, bravery, positivity, and energy. We’re asking girls to share and celebrate what makes them unique: their true and most authentic selves.
We’re challenging the thought that many of us still think of men when we think of firefighters, professional athletes, and scientists—and encouraging everyone to look to the future instead of the past. We’re declaring that each Girl Scout brings a one-of-a-kind set of talents and traits to the table—all they have to do is let their unique superpowers shine without fear or shame!
We’re also gearing up for Girl Scout Week (March 10–16, 2024). Girl Scout Week is a chance for us to celebrate Girl Scouts’ birthday all week long with themed days that encourage kindness, sisterhood, and Girl Scout pride.
There are so many wonderful ways to make a difference, and they all start with being unapologetically YOU! So, let’s get out there and be ourselves so we can continue changing the world!
