Women's Equality Day: America's Gender Equality History

First celebrated in 1971 and designated by Congress in 1973, Women's Equality Day is August 26th. It commemorates the day in 1920 when Bainbridge Colby, then-Secretary of State, certified the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, granting women in the United States the right to vote. It's a big deal to us at EventBuilder! We are, as a women-owned and led company, standing on the shoulders of the brave women who fought for their equality. Let's give them their due! 

The Dawn of the Women's Suffrage Movement

Some quick facts about the origin of the fight to grant women the right to vote in the United States: 

• In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and noted abolitionist Lucretia Mott held the first Women's Rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York. There, she authored The Declaration of Sentiments, which included statements that touched on women's disenfranchisement from voting, civil representation, property ownership, earned wages, a college education, child custody/guardianship in the case of divorce, and more. It was definitely a strong opener for what would grow to become America's Women's Suffrage Movement.
• Starting in January 1917, the National Women's Party, led by Alice Paul , organized a daily protest at the White House. Known as the "Silent Sentinels," the women stood outside the White House gates holding banners asking Woodrow Wilson to support women's right to vote. Because the U.S. had just entered World War I, the women faced harsh criticism, were called unpatriotic for their civil disobedience during wartime, and eventually faced arrest for "obstructing traffic." Called The Night of Terror,  on November 14th, 1917, 33 women were sent to the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia; they were beaten, shackled, housed in filthy conditions, denied counsel, and when they embarked on a hunger strike, were force-fed rotten food, all under the guise of "teaching them a lesson." 
• Word of their horrible treatment got out, public pressure began to mount, and the tide began to turn. In early 1918, the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled that the women had been illegally arrested, convicted, and imprisoned. Eventually bowing to the increasing to public pressure, President Wilson soon reversed course and came out in support of women's suffrage in 1918. 
• The 19th Amendment finally gained enough support for its passage, ratification, and official certification on August 26th, 1920. 

The day not only honors the Amendment's enactment but also serves as a reflection point on the struggles and triumphs of those who fought tirelessly for women's suffrage. Their courage laid the groundwork for future generations to continue advocating for equal rights across all areas of society.

The 19th Amendment didn't grant all American women the right to vote. For American women of color, the fight for voting rights continued and were obtained later throughout the 20th century:

• Native American women: 1924
• Chinese American women: 1943
• Japanese and other Asian American women: 1952
• Black and African American women: Despite their early and enthusiastic support of women's suffrage, Black and African American women's voting rights were not fully and unequivocally granted to them until the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
• Latina and Hispanic American women: Even after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, voting remained difficult for Latino communities, particularly non-English speakers. In 1975, Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act was added, requiring all voting materials be provided, "in the language of the applicable minority group as well as the English language." 

The Women's Movement Marches Forward

From that first Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, the ratification of the 19th Amendment was a big leap forward, but there were still battles to be fought and won to continue paving the road to equality. Pivotal legislation moving gender equality forward include the 1963 Equal Pay Act, addressing wage disparity based on gender, the establishment of Title IX in 1972,  prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any school or education program receiving federal funding, and the introduction of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, strengthening legal protections for women against domestic violence and sexual assault. Each milestone represents a hard-won victory.

Women Who Paved the Way for Gender Equality

The path toward gender equality has been shaped by the determination of trailblazing women. In addition to Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul, notable women's equality vanguards include Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Ida Barnett-Wells , and noted abolitionist Lucretia Mott. They all stand as icons of the suffrage movement, and their relentless advocacy for women's rights has inspired countless others to take up the cause.

Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Sojourner Truth

In more recent history, leaders like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who fought for women's rights in the courtroom, and Malala Yousafzai, who advocates for girls' education, exemplify the enduring spirit of activism necessary to challenge gender biases and promote equality. 

"Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time." ~Ruth Bader Ginsberg

The Impact of Legislation on Women's Rights

Legislative progress has been a driving force in advancing women's rights. Laws like the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which addressed wage discrimination, have been essential in providing legal recourse and protection for women. Each piece of legislation contributes to a society where women can pursue opportunities free from discrimination.

However, the journey is far from over. Current discussions on matters like paid family leave, reproductive rights, and protection against workplace harassment underscore the ongoing need for legislative action to secure full equality.

"You Can't Be What You Can't See"

While women have made great strides forward in many professions, there is more work to be done. Women make up 46% of the United States workforce, but represent only 28% of the workforce employed in STEM careers. The latest data shows that roughly 27.6% of the technology workforce identify as female, and roughly 17% of technology companies currently have a woman serving as CEO. EventBuilder is proud to be among them to represent and model what's possible for women in generations to come.

All Hands on Deck

We have, unfortunately, begun to see an erosion of these hard-won rights and gains toward equality of late. Across the United States, both at the state and federal levels, legislation is being introduced that may actually impede progress and weaken equality for American women. Frequently proposed under the guise of "protection," some of the legislation currently being considered include:

• The SAVE Act - Under the SAVE Act, women who have changed their names (e.g., married women) may face difficulties registering to vote and voting if their current name doesn't match what's on their birth certificate or other official documents. Additionally, this act threatens to disenfranchise otherwise eligible voters who do not have easy access to their birth certificates, rural communities, natural disaster survivors, communities of color, and lower-income voters. 
• H.R. 28 - "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act" - This bill, passed by the House and currently moving through the Senate, redefines sex for school athletics under Title IX as, "reproductive biology and genetics at birth," with loss of federal funds for institutions that don't comply. This is an example of a bill whose name and wording are deceiving; in fact, it's a blatant attempt to prevent young trans athletes from participating in their chosen interscholastic sport.  
• Title IX Rule Vacated - A federal court wiped out the 2024 Title IX rule that expanded protections—including for pregnant and LGBTQ+ students—reverting back to 2020 rules. This effectively narrowed institutional duties around sex discrimination and harassment, and opened the door to future legislation that could narrow the standards further.
• Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Funding Cuts - House CJS proposal would cut LSC by 46% ($300M). The current administration's budget proposed eliminating LSC, sparing only $21M for "close-out" costs. This action has the potential to deny civil legal help to millions, including survivors of domestic violence, family law, housing, and benefits cases where women are the primary clients. 

At the state level, bills aiming to raise the minimum marriage age to 18 recently failed in West Virginia, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Arizona, and Texas. While legislation passed in New Hampshire to raise the legal marriage age to 18, state lawmakers recently sought to carve out an exception, which has the potential to weaken the law and re-open pathways for coerced child marriages. Additionally, The Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2024, introduced in the Senate in August 2024, sought to address the issue of child marriages in the United States and is, unfortunately, now stalled in Congress. 

Additionally, multiple bills have been introduced in various state legislatures that would add in-person requirements for abortion pills, limit coverage for certain types of gender-based healthcare, allow providers to refuse treatment to a patient based on their "conscience," and expand informed consent hurdles. While most have been defeated so far, these also serve as examples of a policy push toward significantly curtailing access to much-needed women's reproductive and general healthcare, again under the guise of "protecting" women and girls.

Hope For the Future

While it may look and feel a bit discouraging at the moment, all is not lost! Some recent good news:

• The Wage Gap is Narrowing - Due to higher rates of college graduation, having families later in life, and concentration in the healthcare and education sectors, women have made strides toward closing the wage gap. 
• Union Participation is On the Rise - Especially among women, union participation has increased , fueling collective power to reduce economic disparities.
• Corporate Leadership is Growing - Women now hold approximately 29% of C-Suite roles, up from 17% in 2015.
• Media Representation is Improving - In 2024, films reached equal representation of male and female protagonists (42% each), moving the entertainment industry towards more balanced narratives.
• Gender Parity = Big Economic Gains - For OECD countries, enhanced women's participation added $4.5 billion annually to productivity, and could rise to $15.1 billion by 2030.

Looking Forward: The Future of Gender Equality

As we celebrate Women's Equality Day and acknowledge those that blazed the trail, it's important we also turn our attention to the road ahead. The future of gender equality depends on continued advocacy, education, and policy reform, and requires the collective effort of all genders working together to forge a world where equality is not just an aspiration but a reality for every individual.

Let's engage in conversations, participate in community actions, and support policies that further the cause of gender equality. Stay involved! By doing so, we honor the legacy of those who came before us and build a more equitable world for the generations to follow.