Women's Equality Day: Why It Matters and How You Can Help?

 

Women's Equality Day falls on 26th August every year. This date marks the granting of voting rights to American women in 1920. It is a day to reflect on how far women have come. However, it's also a day to recognize how much work still needs to be done to achieve equality. Gaining voting rights may not seem like such a big deal now, but at the time, it was a challenging and long-fought battle. And if you think about it, things haven't improved too much for women since then. This is why we need Women's Equality Day. 

 

The history behind celebrating Women's Equality Day

For many years, National Women's Equality Day has been observed. In 1973, it was the direst year. Since then, the date has been declared by the President of the United States. The date was chosen to commemorate the day in the 1920s when then-Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby issued the proclamation that granted women in the United States the constitutional right to vote.

In 1920, the day was the culmination of 72 years of agitation by a massive civil rights movement for women. Prior to such movements, even distinguished intellectuals like Rousseau and Kant felt that women's lower standing in society was quite rational and acceptable; women were 'beautiful' and 'unfit for serious labor.'

From Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt battling for civil rights and equality to exceptional scientists like Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, and Jane Goodall, remarkable women have disproved these prejudices during the past century by proving that women are capable of achieving anything. More than ever before, the last century has proven the equal potential of men and women when given the chance to succeed.

The freedom to vote is only one example of how women's equality has progressed. There is still widespread oppression and violence against women, as well as prejudice and stereotyping in every culture, but groups like Equality Now and Womankind Worldwide are working hard to change that. The President makes a proclamation every year recognizing the incredible contributions of trailblazers in this cause. President Barack Obama stated the following in 2016:

"Today, as we mark the anniversary of this hard-won victory and pay respect to the trailblazers and suffragists who helped us move closer to a more just and prosperous future, we commit to defending this fundamental right and promise. To continue working for equality for women and girls."

 

Why is Women's Equality Day so important?

Even though we still have a long way to go, we must celebrate how far we've come on Women's Equality Day. If we ignore the progress we've made, we risk being in denial of the challenges still facing women across the globe. Women are vital to our society and are equally important as men. On Women's Equality Day and every day, we need to lift and support the women in our lives. We must tell our daughters and sisters that they can be anything they want. We need to say to our wives that they are loved and appreciated. And we need to tell our mothers that they are appreciated and loved. Women are just as important as men and deserve to be represented equally in our society.

 

Commit to gender equality by joining the fight

The fight for women's equality is far from over. In many regions of the world, women are still considered second-class citizens, and many women face many challenges in the U.S. too. There are plenty of issues women face today that we need to confront before we can even begin discussing equality. Women's Equality Day allows us to commit to fighting for gender equality once again. Regardless of the gender, each one of us as individuals can work on it in numerous ways, from supporting organizations that work for women's rights to simply talking about the issues facing women in your life with your friends, family, or on social media. There's no one right way to fight for women's equality, so find a way that feels comfortable and natural to you.

 

Help women in your community

Are you living in a big city or a smaller, more rural town? If you're living in a big city, you may not even realize that there are plenty of ways you can help out women in your community. If you're living in a smaller town, the opportunities to help women in your community may be slightly limited. However, it's not impossible. Women's shelters, for example, operate in most major cities across the U.S. They're always looking for volunteers and people to provide donations. Suppose you want to focus on women's empowerment specifically. In that case, plenty of organizations are dedicated to helping women launch their businesses. You can also look into volunteering with children in your community. Kids need support too, and there are lots of organizations that could use your help. Finally, you can always get involved with outreach at your local church or temple. Many places host events or programs focusing on women's empowerment and self-care.

Last but not least, if you are the owner of your firm, today is the day to take the necessary steps to ensure that you may proudly proclaim that your company has achieved equality for all employees. Do you have a salary disparity between men and women at your company? If that's the case, figure out how to alter it. Understandably, you can't raise everyone's pay rate immediately, but you may begin brainstorming ways to ensure that women are paid fairly. This is correct in both monetary terms and terms of the opportunities afforded to them.

 

Be the difference to make a difference

It isn't always possible to make a huge difference, especially if you're just starting your activism. That's okay, though! It's crucial to take baby efforts toward making a change and creating something that serves your needs. If the thought of getting involved in activism makes you anxious or worried, remember to take it slow and do what feels comfortable and natural to you. Here are a few small ways you can help make a difference today: - Educate yourself on women's issues. - Get involved with a cause or organization you believe in. - Get talking about the issues facing women in your life. - Throw a Women's Equality Day party or gathering with your friends. Let the women in life know that their work is appreciated.

You don’t always have to join a shelter or a non-profit organization to support women. Start from your home and workplace, and be the difference you wish to see in society. Stand up for your colleagues, your wives, your sisters your daughters when you encounter them being maltreated or in any compromising situation. 

 

Conclusion

Women's Equality Day aims to inspire people to take action. It’s a reminder that we still have work to do to achieve gender parity is a sobering thought. We may still make a difference by dedicating ourselves to the cause, assisting women in our communities, and taking the baby steps that add up to a giant leap forward. Supporting women is a boon to society as a whole. WomenWire.com hopes to have encouraged you to make your baby step toward the growth and nurture of women today.