Co-vice president of the Women’s Student Union (WSU) and Berkeley High School sophomore Sophia Koshland shared her opinion on why it’s important to celebrate Women’s History Month. “(The month) helps us continue to fight for our rights, and just a reminder of how much work has been put in to give women the rights that we have today,” Koshland said.
Co-president Phoebe Dedlow, a BHS senior, explained how at times, talking to a student from the WSU about any concerns may be the ideal option in comparison to other resources, such as staff or parents, as the peer-centered view feels more approachable to some students.
“Since our club leaders are not mandated reporters, but we’re very informed and know a lot about the reporting system and processes, we can be a resource for people to talk to without having to talk to staff (who are mandated reporters),” Dedlow said.
The WSU focuses on teaching others about their rights and acknowledging how many individuals and groups had to fight for the rights that women in the U.S. have today. Eve Eyal, a BHS sophomore and other co-vice president of the WSU, described how Women’s History Month has impacted her.
“It shows how (women) changed the world … because sometimes that can be overlooked,” Eyal said.
Similar to Eyal, BHS freshman and WSU member Anya Wagner feels that Women’s History Month does not always get the recognition it deserves. “There were so many things that happened to us, and they just get overlooked, and people’s ideas get overlooked because they’re women,” Wagner said.
Women’s History Month is a way for all to learn about how many women have had to work to be recognized as more than the stereotypes that they are portrayed as. “It’s really important to have a month designated to celebrating women’s history because it just … forces people to reflect on all the positive changes that we’ve made in the past,” Dedlow said.
For Women’s History Month this year, the WSU hosted a fair on Monday, March 10, 2025, along with other clubs at BHS that focus on equality and reproductive health for women, such as the Gender Equality and Sexual Harassment Advisory Commitee (GESHAC) and Women of Literature. BHS senior Anita Marie Julca, who attended the fair as a representative of the GESHAC, described the goal of the fair.
“Today we really want to change the culture and inspire a lot of sisterhood,” Julca said, “If we want to attack the issue of gender based violence and sexual violence … we have to focus on community and building those bonds so we can all be stronger together.”
One of the fair’s most popular spots was the flower bouquet making station. According to Julca, the flowers were there to symbolize the resilience of women throughout history and the ways in which women create beauty and growth in every situation they encounter, no matter how adverse.
In past years, the WSU has made once a week videos that will go in the bulletin about a woman in history that they think deserves be recognized. This year they have decided to keep with the tradition and promote a variety of women who have accomplished much in their lives. “We’re doing (bulletins) once a week about a woman who’s had a lot of influence on expanding equality in the past,” Dedlow said.
The WSU is a group of young women that want to help make BHS a safe and judgement free place for anyone who identifies as a female. “(The WSU) makes me feel like I can do my part to make this school more safe for everybody in it,” Koshland said.