Women’s Equality Day: Why Is It Celebrated?

Women’s Equality Day is marked every year on 26 August. The day is important for women across the world. The day plays a crucial role in highlighting the achievements made by women over the years.

The day is celebrated primarily in the United States. On 26 August, 1920, the women in the US were granted the right to vote in elections. They faced years of hardships to get this opportunity. Women’s Equality Day was first marked on August 26, 1971. Since then, the United States has started to celebrate the day every year.

Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974, was the first person to issue an official proclamation to celebrate Women’s Equality Day.

Why is Women’s Equality Day celebrated?

Women’s Equality Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. 

The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution protects women’s rights and prohibits any kind of discrimination against women. It ended the hardships of American women who faced inequalities. The Amendment prohibits the US government from denying the right to vote to women. 

The day is also celebrated to raise awareness of the rights and equality of women across the world. Various events are organized by women’s rights groups to celebrate this day and honor women, who have achieved in various fields, including science and technology, arts, films, law, and others. 

They call this day important for women empowerment and education of women, as they fight against gender-based violence and abortion rights.

Recently, the president of the US, Joe Biden said, “We mark the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the Equal Rights Amendment. Together we must build a future where our daughters have all the same rights and opportunities as our sons.”