Women’s Equality Day is a day to celebrate the accomplishments and rights women have gained.
Did you know:
Congress has designated August 26, the date the Nineteenth Amendment was certified, as Women’s Equality Day. Women gained the right to vote in 1920 (19th Amendment). This day was established in 1973 to celebrate this historical moment.
There’s more to this important moment in history:
- May 20-21, 1932; Amelia Earheart became the first woman to fly solo;
- December 1, 1955; Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a man;
- June 10, 1963; President John F. Kennedy signed into law the Equal Pay Act prohibiting Sex-based wage discrimination;
- July 2, 1964; President Lydon B. Johnson signs the “Civil Rights Act” into Law; Title VII, as it is known bans discrimination basked on race, religion, national origin or sex;
- June 23, 1972; President Nixon signs the “Title IX” of the Education Amendments, which states that No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal Financial Assistance;
- The ECOA-The Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 gave women the right to apply for a credit card. Prior to this, a male had to co-sign for a credit card. They were discriminated against if they were married or planned to have children.
Women have come a long way toward accessing equal rights in a very short time. Though many of the above were signed into law, women continue to fight the discrimination and rights based on their identified sex.
National Women’s Equality Day gives us a moment to celebrate, reflect and honor the women of the suffrage movement who paved the way for women’s rights that followed. Thank you to all the Women of the Suffrage Movement from this woman who will celebrate, reflect, honor and continue to advocate for the rights of all humans no matter their; identified sex, race, religion, or national origin.
Christine M. Ziemba
Co-chair, Spectrum Health’s DEIB Committee
