Women’s Equality Day: 8-26-20
As a nation, we will be celebrating Women’s Equality on August 26th. It’s going to be an awesome day to honor women and their achievements! But did you know that this date is also the anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote? Even better!
Many of the suffragists spent their entire lives advocating for women’s voting rights. The very first amendment, 1878, failed, and it wasn’t until years later in 1919 that the 19th Amendment passed both the House and the Senate. The ratification by the necessary number of states concluded in August of 1920, and (most) women were then legally allowed to vote.
This was a great victory, no question, but not for women of color, those of lower incomes, and immigrants. Over time, the battle was fought and won for these women too, but it took years of commitment and hard work by suffragists and activists. It was sometimes even a dangerous undertaking; nevertheless, women persevered and gained their rights.
Today we talk a lot about the empowerment of women, and this is an important part of achieving equality. Empowerment includes an increasing sense of self-worth, the power to make decisions for oneself, gaining access to opportunities and resources, the ability to effect change, and having power over one’s own life.
These benefits might seem pretty normal and the status quo to the younger generation of women, but there was a time, not so very long ago, when that was not the case at all. We’ve come such a long way!
As we celebrate women and women’s equality on August 26th, let us never forget the many generations of brave, committed, courageous women who came before us that dedicated their lives, intellects, and energies to a future many of them would never even see. We may not be able to thank them personally, but we can pay it forward by continuing to strive for equality for women, and not only for women but for each and every one of us.
I’m looking into the future, and it looks pretty bright!
I’m AnnaVija McClain, and I am all about empowerment. I’m dedicated to delivering educational and actionable advice to small business owners that will help them accomplish their business goals. One of my main goals is to deliver content, resources, and tools that you can implement right away, empowering you to do what you do best. Let’s talk!