Women’s History Month, celebrated every March, is an annual commemoration of the pivotal role women have played in American history. The national theme for 2025 is "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”
The roots of Women’s History Month date back to March 8, 1857, when women working in New York factories staged a protest over deplorable job conditions. The actual celebration of Women’s History Month grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history, and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, California in 1978. Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a “Real Woman” essay contest, and a parade was held in downtown Santa Rosa. It was not until 1981 that the US Congress established National Women’s History Week during the second week of March. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month. Every year since, March has been proclaimed as Women’s History Month.
Featured IVC Event
Women's History Month Celebration
Wednesday, March 12 | 11 am - 1 pm | PAC Lobby
Join us in celebration of Women’s History Month! Come explore local women owned businesses, community partners, and on-campus organizations as we honor the achievements and contributions of women.
Women Veteran Networking Forum: Re-Ignite Your Values
Thursday, March 6 | 10 am - 3 pm | PAC
Join us for a special gathering of women who have proudly worn the uniform, coming together to reconnect, reflect, and reaffirm their personal and professional values.
Downtown Downey Night Market: Women's Herstory Month Celebration
Thursday, March 13 | 5 - 9 pm | 11002 Downey Ave, Downey, CA | Learn More »
Join the fun at the Downtown Downey Night Market! We will have vendors, food, entertainment and a celebration of women!
Girlhood Club
Girlhood Club is dedicated to fostering a supportive and empowering community for female students. We aim to create a safe space where women can come together to uplift and inspire one another, build lasting friendships, and explore their creativity. Through activities such as painting, jewelry making, crafting, movie nights, karaoke, and more, we celebrate the strength and uniqueness of every woman, encouraging personal growth, self-expression, and mutual empowerment. Together, we create a sisterhood that empowers each member to shine, thrive, and make meaningful connections. All students are welcome to join. More Info »
Girls Who Code College Loop
The Girls Who Code College Loop Club is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the gender disparity in STEM majors and in the workplace, through volunteer opportunities in the community and by developing student interest in women and non‐binary participation and success in STEM‐related careers. More Info »
GSA Club
The Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) of IVC is a school-affiliated club made up of LGBTQIA+ students and their allies dedicated to the celebration and flourishing of queer people, identities, and culture across campus and Orange County. The GSA focuses on creating a safe space for community ties to strengthen through community bonding events, collaborative civic engagement, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ history and culture. More Info »
LeGal
LeGal is a student-run undergraduate organization that specializes in women’s empowerment in the political and legal fields. Our objective is to bridge the inequality gap and diminish gender disparity for our members. We will provide opportunities to connect with law school representatives and women in the legal field. More Info »
She’s the First Club
The She's the First Club was established to promote public awareness of insufficient schooling for young girls, stimulate student interest in the importance of the education of girls across the globe, and provide opportunities for community volunteer work as. More Info »
Society of Women Engineers
Empower women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders; expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion. More Info »
Women in Business
Women In Business strives to bring all women and future female leaders that aspire to be part of the business world together with social, networking, and recreational events. Our mission at Irvine Valley College is to foster a positive and inclusive environment for women pursuing a career in business and provide opportunities for members to develop leadership skills. We strive for gender equity and intersectionality whilst empowering women to further their professional development in the business field. More Info »
Women in Cybersecurity Club
Our IVC Student Chapter of Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) - a national organization that aims to bring gender diversity to Cybersecurity, is fully committed to working towards our shared goals of reducing the gender gap in cybersecurity, providing top-notch education, mentorship, and networking opportunities to students, and promoting women's participation in the cybersecurity workforce. The WiCyS community brings together women, allies, and advocates who can empower each other, and collectively help in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the cybersecurity workforce. We believe that by joining WiCyS, we can inspire and encourage more women to pursue careers in this exciting and rapidly evolving field. More Info »
Womxn of Color Collective (WoCC)
WoCC is a group dedicated to building community and empowering self-identified womxn of color students, staff, and faculty. Womxn is used in place of “women” to be inclusive of all gender experiences surrounding femininity. Non-female-identifying students such as non-binary and gender expansive folks are explicitly invited and welcomed. More Info »
Visit the IVC Library Women's History Month Resources Guide to find books, articles, art images, and streaming videos on topics including history, art, film, music, and food.