The National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) has just released the second video in its “She Is Not a Footnote” campaign, which spotlights women as the featured story, rather than a footnote pushed to the margins of history books. The short list of scientists includes the images of the women, their amazing discoveries, and the names and images of the men who received credit for the work. If you look closely, the men did similar work or were coworkers, but in most cases, they received the medals, awards, and honors instead of the brilliant women, who were dismissed as support staff or overlooked entirely. When we replace the women and delete their accomplishments from history, it perpetuates the underrepresentation of women and limits the imagination and achievement of future generations.
As Dr. Nancy likes to say, “You have to see it to be it. Young women and girls need to learn about the amazing women who have contributed to advancements in learning, making life better for everyone. We must share these stories and celebrate these women to open a world of possibilities.”
Instead of telling girls they aren’t as good as boys at math, show them NWHM’s She Is Not a Footnote video and inspire them to embrace their ideas, curiosity, and drive to explore and discover new things. That is how they’ll excel—and maybe even discover things no one ever thought possible, like the double-helix in DNA that carries all of our genetic information (discovered by Rosalind Franklin, not James Watson and Francis Crick, who won the Nobel Prize for it).
The first phase of the She Is Not a Footnote campaign featured the Young Women and Girls’ Aspiration Report, which surveyed 1,100 young women and girls ages 13-27. It found that 90% believed that men held most of the advantages in the workforce, reported Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder for US News and World Report. “Representation shapes possibility. If we continue to sideline half the population, we are choosing to be weaker as a society,” said Frédérique Irwin, president and CEO of the National Women’s History Museum, in a statement accompanying the report’s release. “Our Young Women and Girls’ Aspiration Report is not just about awareness – it’s a blueprint for action.”
This next generation of young women and girls refuses to be a footnote in the future. They’re pushing back against being sidelined, erased, or replaced because of their gender. The report’s findings reveal several persistent gaps in representation and opportunity, challenging the misconception that gender equality has already been achieved.
They’re ready to work hard, but expect equal pay, greater financial support for their education, and a fair return on the investment made for their education. Beyond financial stability, they also want to stop being dismissed in the healthcare system, with more support for reproductive needs and mental health. It’s not complicated. Their dreams for the future are based on common sense and an understanding that the current system has taken centuries to build the wall against them and can’t be dismantled overnight, but they are marching forward to do just that—brick by brick.
The NWHM has worked since the 1990s on online content to provide curriculum for teachers, increasing women’s representation in history and populating their resources with stories that offer hope and support the dreams of young people aiming high. Their work is only getting started. With She Is Not a Footnote, NWHM is working to raise $25,000 by July 31st, and every dollar will be matched to help them:
- Share free, empowering content with more young women and girls
- Fund educational resources for classrooms nationwide
- Produce videos that bring hidden stories to life
- Conduct vital research on the challenges girls face today.
There’s still time to help them have a successful kickoff and continue their essential work of educating, inspiring, and empowering future generations. You can support the movement by sharing the video and more stories about notable women who have made their mark in history, starting a conversation about a woman whose accomplishments have impressed you, or engaging locally with organizations or clubs in your community working for gender equity (or better yet, starting one yourself).
Most importantly, donate to the NWHM She Is Not a Footnote movement before July 31st to help create tools that will enable our next generation to be more representative of women, especially in areas where they are underrepresented, such as STEM, politics, top leadership, and more. It’s up to us to create a legacy and show the future leaders that they can and must lead, as brilliant, insightful women with a vision of fully engaged resources from all genders, cultures, and backgrounds. We owe them a brighter, more rewarding future, and we can deliver it when we support them together.