Posted on August 26 2018
August 18, 1920: After a long and hard battle, women in the United States were officially granted the right to vote (of course, this was limited to white women, as it took much longer to get women of all colors to participate in democracy).
Still, the 19th amendment declared that “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,” making people hopeful that there was space for change and equality.
In 1971, Congress declared August 26 the official “Women’s Equality Day” to commemorate the 19th Amendment. It’s been 98 years since the amendment was added to the constitution, and a lot has changed. Read below a few things you may not know about Women Voters in the United States, and discover a few ways to get involved on this day!
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The number of female voters has exceeded the number of male voters in every presidential election since 1964.
Women began fighting for the right to vote in 1848, meaning the battle for women’s right to vote took 72 years to be constitutionally recognized.
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Asian, Native American, Hispanic and Black women were not able to vote until decades after the 19th amendment was ratified.
Jeannette Rankin was an American politician and women's rights advocate - and the first woman to hold federal office in the United States. She was elected to the U.S House of Representatives by the State of Montana in 1916, and again in 1940.
Jeannette Rankin of Montana speaks from the balcony of the National American Woman Suffrage Association on April 2, 1917 | Photo/Library of Congress
Contribute to the #ToastToTenacity conversation and hashtag on your social media sites! This year’s theme is “Nevertheless, she persisted." Join in on the conversation!
The best way to celebrate Women’s Equality Day is at the poll booths! Remember the hard fight that had to be waged in order for most of the US to have their right to vote, whether it’s local, state or national elections, your vote matters.
Mary Poppins, 1964 | Source: Giphy
MAKE A FASHION STATEMENT while supporting gender equality with our "Equal Power" tees, as we donate 30% of our sales profits to Equality Now Org. to support the advocacy of women and girls around the world!
