Awareness
Never has the need been more pressing to continue the work in the fight for women’s equality. Around the world, women’s rights are under attack. In many countries across the globe women’s rights are being suppressed and many anti-feminist policies are being passed. Therefore, on August 26 celebrate Women’s Equality Day by educating yourself about ways to get involved to advocate for women’s rights.
Women’s Equality Day was first established in the United States in 1971. The day was approved by the Congress of the United States as a way to honour and remember the passage of the 19th Amendment of the Constitution. The 19th Amendment granted American women the right to vote. A year before Congress officially designated August 26th as Women’s Equality Day, the 50th anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s passage took place.
During the timeframe that Women’s Equality Day was first established, political advocacy for women’s rights issues was taking place across the United States. The National Organization for Women (NOW), one of the leading women’s rights organizations, had called for a national strike for women’s equality and had been advocating for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, which would have invalidated many state and federal laws that discriminated against women. Unfortunately, the Equal Rights Amendment did not pass and created a stark reminder of the continued work required to achieve gender parity.
Currently, in the United States, a gender pay gap still exists. According to the Pew Research Center, over the past two decades, the gender pay gap has barely changed. In 2022 women only earned 82 cents for every dollar that men earned. The disproportionate salaries cannot be explained by qualifications or credentials, since women are shown to have received more college education and training than their male counterparts.
Many rights American women have had for decades are also under threat. For instance, in 2022 the Supreme Court overturned the Roe vs. Wade decision, which federally protected abortion. The decision overturned 50 years of legal abortion protection and allowed states to curtail or outright ban abortions. A slew of policies and laws have also been introduced and passed that repress women’s reproductive and sexual health rights, in addition to protections for the safety and well-being of women.
Due to the onslaught of policies aimed at eradicating fundamental rights and protections for women, help celebrate Women’s Equality Day on August 26 by getting involved and joining causes that advance women’s rights. Equally as important, stay informed politically so that you can make informed decisions when voting to ensure the continued protection of women’s rights.
