Women’s Equality Day 2021

Women’s Equality Day is celebrated every year on August 26 in the United States. Designated by Congress in 1971, it commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which legally granted women the right to vote through the Constitution. Women’s Equality Day was recognized by Congress a year after more than 100,000 individuals across the country participated in the Women’s Strike for Equality March in 1970, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and to bring attention to gains in gender equality and opportunity still to be made. The voting rights movement for women continued after the passage of the 19th Amendment, as many women of color did not gain the right to vote until the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

More than just celebrating the 19th Amendment, Women’s Equality Day also recognizes the historic gains that have been made for equity and equality, and the ongoing efforts to achieve equal rights in many parts of society, including the workplace, school, government, economic participation, voting, and at home.

New York’s newly-elected first female governor, Kathy Hochul, recognized Women’s Equality Day by having thirteen landmarks in New York lit up in purple and gold. “…in honor of Women’s Equality Day, NY lights up in purple & gold to tell women & girls everywhere that you can be anything you want to be,” she said. 1girl is proud to recognize Women’s Equality Day and to pay tribute to the incredible women and girls all over the world.

For further reading, we recommend you check out “23 Ways Women Still Aren’t Equal to Men” https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/news/a15652/gender-inequality-stats/.