Celebrating Women’s Equality Day

The right to vote, the cornerstone of democracy, wasn’t always available to everyone. For much of history, women were denied this fundamental right. In the U.S., the fight for suffrage began in the early 19th century and culminated with the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

To remind us of the struggles of the past, present, and future, Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day in 1971 to honor all those, both women and men, who fought long and hard to win the right to vote for women. But that wasn’t the only battle.

Women have had to fight for fair pay, for control over their own bodies, and for the right to be recognized as equal in every part of American life. Some of those rights, like access to abortion, have already been stripped away. Others, such as equal pay, are still being fought. And now, we’re watching as women’s accomplishments are unceremoniously removed from government and military websites, as if their work and worth can be erased with a few clicks. 

Some men in power now aim to turn our clocks back to the “olden days,” pushing to roll back women’s voting rights altogether. But we know better. Our foremothers set the example for women. They organized, protested, and refused to be silenced. Today’s women are standing strong—doubling down on preserving the justice and rights gained, fighting to reclaim what's been taken, and pressing forward until equality is a reality for everyone.