Women’s Equality Day
Women’s Equality Day
On Women’s Equality Day, we honor the movement for universal suffrage that led to the 19th Amendment. Celebrate the progress of women over the years, and renew your commitment to advancing gender equity and protecting women’s rights.
On August 26, 1920, after decades of hard-fought advocacy, women won the right to vote. It was then that our Nation moved one step closer to living out our sacred ideal that all people are created equal.
How Did Women’s Equality Day Evolve?
Women’s Equality Day marks the success of a powerful, peaceful civil rights movement led by women. It began formally in 1848, at the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. That gathering ignited a movement that would span generations.
This day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. But it’s more than a celebration—it’s a call to action. It reminds us that the fight for full gender equality continues. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, this message rings louder than ever. While we’ve made progress, the journey toward true equality is far from over.
What Is the Dobbs Decision?
Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was a turning point. The case questioned whether the Constitution protects the right to abortion. The Court reviewed Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act, which banned most abortions after 15 weeks—except for medical emergencies or severe fetal abnormalities.
In a deeply divided decision, the Court upheld the Mississippi law and overturned Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). This ruling declared that the Constitution does not guarantee the right to abortion. As a result, the power to regulate abortion returned to state lawmakers.
Chief Justice Roberts supported the Mississippi law but criticized the majority for going further than necessary. He preferred to leave the question of overturning Roe and Casey for another time. Meanwhile, Justices Breyer, Kagan, and Sotomayor issued a rare joint dissent, warning that the ruling strips away a key freedom and threatens the constitutional promise of equality and liberty for women.
Work Still Remains on Women’s Equality Day
Women’s Equality Day honors the trailblazers who fought for a future where women could vote, work, and lead freely. But it also highlights the work still to be done. True equality means more than rights on paper—it means access, opportunity, and autonomy in every aspect of life.
We must continue to fight for a world where everyone can fully participate in our democracy, and where all people—regardless of gender—can make personal decisions about their health, lives, and futures. The fight for bodily autonomy and equal representation is far from over.
Equality Is Not a Radical Idea
We stand by two simple but powerful truths:
Men of quality support and fight for women’s equality.
Feminism is not a dirty word. Everyone—men, women, and non-binary people—should be feminists. Feminism means valuing the rights of all people, equally.
Wear Your Support for Women’s Rights
Show your commitment to equality. Personalized Cause® offers fuchsia wristbands, awareness pins, and engraved awareness ribbon pins to support women’s rights. Personalize a pin with a name, date, or empowering message. Wear it proudly—on your lapel, coat, or bag—and let the world know where you stand.
Equality is a right, not a privilege. Speak up. Stand tall. And never stop pushing forward.