Celebrating Women’s History Month
The COVID-19 pandemic has dominated news headlines, and rightly so. It is important we stay in the loop on what is going on and what it means for our families, our country, and the world.
But I wanted to offer a quick break from coronavirus updates and highlight something I completely forgot about given the unique times we find ourselves in: Women’s History Month. Today, March 31, marks the last day of this annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and reflects on the problems women have faced and overcome to strengthen the role women play in society today.
This year’s theme, selected by the National Women’s History Alliance, is “Valiant Women of the Vote.” The theme honors “the brave women who fought to win suffrage rights for women, and for the women who continue to fight for the voting rights of others.” The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which took effect on August 26, 1920, granted female citizens the right to vote in all American elections and was the culmination of the women’s suffrage movement that dated to the mid-19th century. The leaders for women’s suffrage—Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, and Ida B. Wells, to name a few—didn’t always agree with each other, but together they challenged gender norms and left a lasting legacy.
Read their powerful stories here.
The 19th Amendment reads:
- The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
- Congress shall have power to enforce this Article by appropriate legislation.
Here’s to all the strong, hard-working, and dedicated women who not only fought for our right to vote a centennial ago but who have served and continue to serve throughout the sectors of government today to help impact policies that empower women and help us follow our dreams.