The end of Women's History Month

Throughout history, months have been appointed to celebrate certain minorities whether they be African-American, Jewish, or women, as a sort of retribution for past hardships.  In her article for The Atlantic, Karen Swallow Prior, English professor and author of many articles about gender equality for The Atlantic, speaks against the perils of having whole months (such as Women’s history month) dedicated to particular groups of people.  Throughout the article Prior repeatedly used similes and metaphors to add emphasis to her point.  For example, she wrote “the recognition by Congress in 1987 of Women's History Month and its continued proclamation by the President each year since 1995 seems, next to such a vigorous text, like the tail trying limply to wag the dog,” in reference to the presidential acknowledgement to Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s speech Declaration of Sentiment.  The use of this simile highlights the difference between Cady Stanton’s profound words and the recognition it is given each year in the same tired old speeches.  It also shows how lame the presidential nod towards women’s rights is because a tail cannot wag a dog, the dog must wag the tail.  This had the effect of causing the reader to see her viewpoint: while acknowledging the rich history of women is important, it is also important not to acknowledge it in through same boring routine each year.   Prior also used many sarcastic quotes throughout her piece.  In one instance she wrote “Celebrations of Women's History Month seem to be slouching toward banality. Consider one organization's ‘theme’”  The quotes around the word theme pointed out how silly the idea of creating a theme for women’s history is and was further emphasized by the parenthetical comment “(what? is this a baby shower?)”  Through the use of quotes Prior continued to support the idea that the history of women is beyond redundant speeches, beyond insipid themes, beyond confining months.  Prior’s article proved to be a very effective rhetor on the topic of Women’s history month through particular stylistic choices.