INTRODUCTION
Every October, Black History Month (BHM) is widely recognised in the UK, albeit with the usual backlash from those who claim it’s “divisive” or “unnecessary.” Every February, LGBTQ+ History Month gains traction, particularly in education and activist spaces, highlighting the struggles and achievements of LGBTQ+ communities. But ask the same people about Women’s History Month (WHM) in March, and you’ll likely be met with blank stares.
And yet, WHM has been celebrated in the UK for over 25 years, largely driven by feminists, scholars, and grassroots organisations, so why do so few people know this?
Yes, Women’s History Month Is Recognised in the UK
Let’s clear this up: Women’s History Month exists in the UK. Like Black History Month and LGBTQ+ History Month, it originated in the United States, a country from which the UK has taken some of its best ideas (and sadly, some of its worst). But just as BHM and LGBTQ+ History Month have found a meaningful place here, WHM has been marked in Britain since the 1990s, ensuring that women’s contributions to society are not erased.
For decades, UK-based organisations such as:
The Women’s Library,
The Fawcett Society,
The Women’s History Network, and
Countless grassroots feminist collectives like Vox Feminarum: Women's Voices
…have used March to educate, celebrate, and challenge gender inequalities. Schools, universities, museums, and cultural spaces run exhibitions, lectures, and campaigns to highlight the often-overlooked contributions of women. And yet, outside of feminist and academic circles, the wider public remains largely unaware.
Why Is It So Invisible?
There are a few reasons:
1. Lack of Government & Institutional Support
Unlike LGBTQ+ History Month, which is increasingly recognised in schools and workplaces, or Black History Month, which at least receives some level of council and media acknowledgment, Women’s History Month lacks widespread institutional recognition. There’s no formal integration into the school curriculum, no government-backed initiatives, and certainly no corporate sponsorship to boost visibility.
2. Media Silence
Mainstream UK media barely acknowledges Women’s History Month. Compare this to the US, where March sees dedicated programming, high-profile discussions, and widespread engagement. In the UK, International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8th gets coverage, but WHM itself remains largely overlooked, despite the efforts of feminists and historians to keep it alive.
3. A Wider Backlash Against Feminism
Let’s be honest, there’s been a concerted effort in recent years to discredit feminism and downplay gender inequality. The rise of misogynistic backlash movements, attacks on trans rights, and the media’s obsession with framing feminism as “man-hating” all contribute to the erasure of initiatives like WHM.
4. WHM Deserves More Than Just a Day
International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8th is a powerful celebration of women’s achievements and struggles. But while we recognise its importance, many of us believe that one day isn’t enough.
Just as Black history cannot be contained within a single day, nor LGBTQ+ history reduced to a single moment, women’s history deserves sustained recognition. WHM may not give us the full 365 days that gender justice demands, but a month at least ensures we are on par with other marginalised histories that have been systemically erased.
The Bigger Picture: Who Gets to Be Remembered?
The UK now marks Black History Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, and Women’s History Month, each of which exists because dominant historical narratives have traditionally excluded these voices. The fight for visibility, recognition, and institutional support remains ongoing, and WHM’s lack of mainstream awareness raises a crucial question:
Who gets to be remembered? And who gets erased?
Just as LGBTQ+ History Month reminds us that queer history has been deliberately written out, and Black History Month challenges a whitewashed version of Britain’s past, Women’s History Month is an intervention, a push against the continued invisibility of women’s achievements.
So What Can We Do?
The lack of awareness around Women’s History Month is not inevitable. It’s a reflection of the choices our institutions make—what they prioritise, whose stories they elevate, and what remains ignored. But we can change that narrative.
Here are some concrete steps we can take to raise visibility so that every child—girl, boy, and non-binary, can develop a fuller understanding and appreciation of women’s contributions, achievements, and worth, then and now:
1. Integrate Women’s History into Education
Push for WHM lessons in schools and universities, just as Black and LGBTQ+ histories are (slowly) being integrated.
Call for history curricula to include the stories of women beyond the usual token figures (e.g., beyond just the suffragettes and Florence Nightingale).
Educate young people about the intersectionality of gender, race, class, and disability in history.
2. Demand Media Representation
Challenge UK media to cover WHM with the same depth and consistency as BHM and LGBTQ+ History Month.
Support grassroots feminist media platforms that highlight women’s stories and histories.
3. Advocate for Institutional Support
Ask local councils, libraries, and cultural institutions to formally recognise and fund WHM programming.
Lobby the government for official recognition and integration into public sector initiatives.
4. Use Our Own Platforms
Talk about WHM—share articles, host discussions, and use social media to amplify the message.
Encourage workplaces to go beyond performative IWD gestures and engage with WHM as a full month of reflection and action.
5. Centre Diverse Women’s Voices
Ensure that WHM in the UK doesn’t just default to white, middle-class feminism but includes the contributions of Black, Asian, migrant, working-class, disabled, and LGBTQ+ women.
Highlight the achievements of women in STEM, politics, activism, the arts, and beyond.
Time to Change That
So no, Women’s History Month is not just an American thing, any more than LGBTQ+ History Month or Black History Month are.
WHM exists in the UK. The question is: why aren’t more people paying attention?
And more importantly, what are we going to do about it?
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