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Women's Equality Day
What does Women's Equality Day celebrate?
This day is meant to commemorate the day when the 19th amendment was passed in 1920 giving women the right to vote. It also is a day to look back on all women's rights issues and progress.
When is it celebrated?
Each year on August 25th
Who celebrates this day?
This is a United States holiday. It is typically celebrated by government, educational, and women's organizations.
What do people do to celebrate?
Various organizations do different things to commemorate the day. This includes displays showing the history of women's rights and suffrage in the United States, programs to point out current inequalities, and conferences discussing women's rights.
History of Women's Equality Day
The fight for women's rights goes back many years. Women such as Susan B. Anthony fought for the right for women to vote the same as men. This is called women's suffrage. She founded the National Women's Suffrage Association in 1869 in order to organize the fight for the right to vote. The amendment to the US Constitution to allow women to vote was first proposed in 1878, but it took many years until it was finally passed. On August 26, 1920 the 19th amendment became a part of the US Constitution and women were permitted to vote.
In 1971, Congresswoman Bell Abzug introduced legislation to Congress for an official Women's Equality Day. It soon passed and the day became an official holiday.
Fun Facts About Women's Equality Day
- Other early leaders in the fight for women's rights included Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
- The first convention to discuss the fight for suffrage, or voting rights, was held in 1849 in Seneca Falls, New York.
- Women became an important part of the industrial work force during World War IIwhen women were needed to work hard jobs in factories building tanks, weapons, and planes.
- March is considered Women's History Month.
- The first woman to run as a vice-presidential candidate for a major party was Geraldine Ferraro.
- There are actually still 15 states that have not ratified the 19th amendment.
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Women's Equality Day
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