National Women's History Month

March is National Women’s History Month — a celebration of women’s contributions to the nation’s culture, history and society. The annual observance began as a week-long event 30 years ago and expanded to one month in 1987.


This year’s theme, “Women’s Education — Women’s Empowerment”, speaks to the role of women in the Postal Service. The percentage of women in the workforce has increased steadily over the years. In 1960, there were 104 women letter carriers. By the 1980s, that number grew to 8,000 — 4 percent of the total number of letter carriers. And, at the end of 2011, 224,525 women — 40.9 percent of the career complement — were USPS employees. 


Since 1893, when a woman first appeared on a U.S. postage stamp, the Postal Service has honored women and their achievements through its stamp program. Publication 512, Women on Stamps, provides information on many of these female honorees.