Women’s Equality Day 2022 to be observed globally on August 26: Know its History and Significance

The day honours the US constitutional amendment (19th Amendment) 1920 which prevented the central and provincial governments of the US from denying the right to vote to women based solely on gender. The U.S. Congress declared August 26 to be "Women's Equality Day" in the year 1971.

This day represents a turning moment in the history of the fight for women's rights and gender equality in the US. The momentous day is proclaimed each year by the United States President

Women's Equality Day 2022: History and Significance

The fight for women's suffrage in the United States started before the Civil War. By the 1830s, the majority of the states in the United States had extended the eligibility for voting from wealthy white male property owners to all white men, regardless of how much property they owned.

Several civil rights movements were raging across the US in those tumultuous times: from anti-slavery campaigns to movements for temperance. And women took part in each of those movements.

The movement for women voting rights gained momentum in the 1890s after the rise of the National American Woman Suffrage Association with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as its head. And by the end of the decade and 19th century, the states of Utah and Idaho had caved into the demand of granting voting rights to women there.

Soon several western states joined the bandwagon. But there still was severe opposition from Eastern and Southern states who weren't willing to budge. However, the 19th Amendment passed on August 26, 1920, made any such governmental obstructions illegal. And all the states, including the federal government, fell in line and granted all US women the right to vote.

The prominent women behind the women's suffrage movement in the US

• Elizabeth Cady Stanton: In 1848, the world's first women's rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. She was the loudest and most prominent voice here demanding women's suffrage in the country.
• Susan B. Anthony: Susan B. Anthony, an American social reformer and activist for women's rights was crucial to the movement for women's suffrage. Her entire life was devoted to promoting racial, gender, and academic equality.
• Lucretia Mott: American women's rights advocate and social reformer Lucretia Mott helped found the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society in 1833. She played a big role in the Declaration of Sentiments, which was prepared in 1848 for the first Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York.

How the Women's Equality Day is Celebrated?

• Numerous women's organisations host seminars and workshops to address the concerns and issues that women in the US in particular and the world in general face.
• On this day, students are taught about the struggle and challenging path that women had to travel in order to obtain the right to vote in various schools and institutions.
• Pro-women's rights museums and those devoted to the fight for women voting rights are visited by visitors.
• Another way to honour this day is to vote in favour of legislation that affects women.

When the Women Equality Day celebrated for the first time?

It was 1971. This was when a US lawmaker Bella Abzug presented a bill in Congress (US Parliament) to celebrate August 26 as Women's Equality Day as on "that day in 1920...the women of America were first given the right to vote."

Importance of Women Equality Day in society

They make up half of the civilization and humans owe their existence to the womenfolk. We are born and brought up by them and our society and civilization would collapse without them. Women play a major role in all walks of life be it social, economic or political. Studies show that increased women's participation in public life helps the country and society develop.

Students can take help of this article to write a 400 words essay on women equality day.

Women's Equality Day 2022 Theme

It is "Hard Won...Not Done" - same as last year. The only difference is in what the focus has been on. Last year "Hard Won" universal suffrage was in focus; the fact that gender equality is "Not Done" is in focus this year.

Why India should celebrate Women's Equality Day as well?

• Though Indian women got the right to vote ever since Independence, they still lack social, financial and political representation in society to date.
• Our nation can not develop to its potential if we keep half of its population - the womenfolk - behind several social and cultural barriers.
• Women's economic empowerment is a must for our economic growth and overall development of the nation and the sooner we realize it the better it will be for the country.

Happy Women Equality Day to all !!