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International Women’s Day poster from 1975, printed by the Women’s Graphics Collective, in our @cooperhewitt.

Today we celebrate International Women’s Day, a day in which we honor and recognize the contributions of women…both on Earth and in space.

Since the beginning, women have been essential to the progression and success of America’s space program.

Throughout history, women have had to overcome struggles in the workplace. The victories for gender rights were not achieved easily or quickly, and our work is not done.

Today, we strive to make sure that our legacy of inclusion and excellence lives on.

We have a long-standing cultural commitment to excellence that is largely driven by data, including data about our people. And our data shows progress is driven by questioning our assumptions and cultural prejudices – by embracing and nurturing all talent we have available, regardless of gender, race or other protected status, to build a workforce as diverse as our mission. This is how we, as a nation, will take the next giant leap in exploration.

As a world leader in science, aeronautics, space exploration and technology, we have a diverse mission that demands talent from every corner of America, and every walk of life.

So, join us today, and every day, as we continue our legacy of inclusion and excellence.

Happy International Women’s Day!

You might’ve watched the Grammys this past weekend, where Laverne Cox told you to google “Gavin Grimm.”

Many obeyed, the hashtag #StandWithGavin rising to the top of the trending lists as his story began to circulate among popular consciousness.

Gavin is a transgender high school student in the state of Virginia who has had to attend board meetings filled with adults discussing his ability to utilize the school bathroom, many of whom reportedly cheered after hearing vulgar statements made about the teenager.

When the school board voted that he would not be able to use the boys bathroom, Gavin decided to sue.

He says: “I am fighting this fight because no kid should have to think so hard about performing a basic and private function of being alive. No kid struggling to be accepted, and struggling to accept themselves, should have to simultaneously battle for the right to use the correct bathroom. That is why I have come to this point. I hope that I will be one of the last kids that has to go through something like this, and I am going to do what I can to ensure that.”

Represented by the ACLU, Gavin will be headed to the Supreme Court, where the verdict will impact transgender individuals more broadly than bathroom rights – but to protections on the basis of sex interpreted to included gender identity. It will be the first time the Supreme Court will consider the question of whether transgender people are protected from discrimination.

A Swedish woman hitting a neo-Nazi protester with her handbag. The woman was reportedly a concentration camp survivor. [1985]

Volunteers learn how to fight fires at Pearl Harbor [c. 1941 - 1945]

Maud Wagner, the first well-known female tattoo artist in the U.S. [1907]

A 106-year old Armenian woman protecting her home with an AK-47. [1990]

Komako Kimura, a prominent Japanese suffragist at a march in New York. [October 23, 1917]

Margaret Hamilton, lead software engineer of the Apollo Project, standing next to the code she wrote by hand that was used to take humanity to the moon. [1969]

Erika, a 15-year-old Hungarian fighter who fought for freedom against the Soviet Union. [October 1956]

Sarla Thakral, 21 years old, the first Indian woman to earn a pilot license. [1936]

Female pilots leaving their B-17, “Pistol Packin’ Mama” [c. 1941 - 1945]

The first basketball team from Smith college. [1902]

Filipino guerilla, Captain Nieves Fernandez, shows a US soldier how she killed Japanese soldiers during the occupation. [1944]

Afghani medical students. [1962]   (man, screw fundamentalism.)

A British sergeant training members of the ‘mum’s army’ Women’s Home Defence Corps during the Battle of Britain. [1940]

and just to wrap up…