It Took An Act of Congress

Wednesday, August 26 is Women’s Equality Day.  In 1971, the US Congress passed a resolution setting aside this day each year to commemorate the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment giving women the right to vote, and to acknowledge that we still strive to appreciate equal rights in our working lives and our personal lives.

We have come a long way, baby.  Recently, two women graduated from Ranger School.  It was widely reported in all the news outlets, but in the next breath it was questioned whether or not they’d be allowed to serve as Rangers.

Graphic from Fusion

The pay gap is still almost as wide as ever.  I found this graphic from an article on Fusion’s WordPress blog pretty interesting.  The statistics compare similarly educated men and women in various fields.  For no discernible reason, men tend to be paid more in a lot of jobs.

Here is the actual resolution from forty-four years ago.  We still have a long way to go, baby.

Joint Resolution of Congress, 1971
Designating August 26 of each year as Women’s Equality Day

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights: and

WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women’s rights took place.