Why 26th August is celebrated as Women's Equality Day in America?

Courtesy of Reuters

On 26th August, Women's Equality Day is celebrated in the United States to commemorate the women's suffrage ratified by the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920. It signified the prohibition of the states and the federal government from refuting the right to vote to citizens of the United States based on gender. In 1971, the U.S. Congress officially recognized 26th August is Women's Equality Day.

Every year, 26th August is observed as the historical significance of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. The date was chosen to commemorate 1920 when Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the proclamation granting American women the constitutional right to vote. There was an ongoing series of strikes from 1970-73 following the 1970 nationwide Women's Strike for Equality, 1973 Equality Rights Amendment. Bella Abzug, a Congresswoman, introduced a resolution to designate 26th August as Women's Equality Day.

In 1972, 37th US President Richard Nixon issued proclamation 4147, which declared 26th August 1972, as the Women's Equality Day. This was the first official declaration. On 16th August, Congress agreed to declare 26th August as the Women's Equality Day. The president was requested to authorize 26th August 1920, on which the American women were first guaranteed the right to vote. 

President Nixon declared a proclamation on the same day for Women's Equality Day, which states,

The struggle for women's suffrage, however, was only the first step toward full and equal participation of women in our Nation's life. In recent years, we have made other giant strides by attacking sex discrimination through our laws and by paving new avenues to equal economic opportunity for women. Today, in virtually every sector of our society, women are making important contributions to the quality of American life. And yet, much remains to be done.

 

Every US president since Richard Nixon has celebrated 26th August as Women's Equality Day. In 2018 President Barack Obama said, 

Today, as we celebrate the anniversary of this hard-won achievement and pay tribute to the trailblazers and suffragists who moved us closer to a more just and prosperous future, we resolve to protect this constitutional right and pledge to continue fighting for equality for women and girls.

Why Women's Equality Day matters in the war against Gender Inequality:

Gender Inequality is a profound topic. There was a time when women were forced to become housewives: they were restricted, stereotyped, subjected, controlled, and dependent. Women were not given the right to education, fundamental rights, the right to vote, and more. 

The revolution of women started when women were given the right to an education that helped them grow and come out of their shells and explore the big wide world. 

Even after when they were educated, they were professionals, the dominating males did not consider them. The popular perspective about women as they are weak, dumb, and meant to be at home. 

In 1972, when women in America were given the right to vote, this was the time women saw a revolution for themselves. Right to education, freedom of speech, right to fundamental rights, right to vote all these factors contributed towards the betterment of Women today.

Women today are independent, fierce. They know their worth, and they know where they stand. They know if they are willing to do something, they will achieve it. Women were considered the weaker section of society and today, and they are considered the most substantial support to society. 

Gender discrimination is a narrow concept; when we talk about equality, we talk about cerebral equality. Women have paved their way through it and it's high time we adapt and accept the changes and keep growing towards the better.

Note: Certain portions of this article reflect the opinion of the writer.

Author:
Ruchika Dubey