Women’s Equality Day 2024

Women’s Equality Day is celebrated every year on August 26. It commemorates the battles and efforts of women against gender injustice and their dedication to achieving equality. Moreover, it also marks the anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment of the US Constitution which granted women suffrage. The basis of the law is to ensure no citizen is denied the right to vote on the basis of gender. This important day serves as a reminder to fight for equality, justice, and equal opportunities for women in all areas of life. In this blog, you will read all about Women’s Equality Day, its history, theme, significance, and the different ways to celebrate. Let’s begin.

Name of the day	Women’s Equality Day
Observed on	August 26
Reason	To honour those who fought for women’s suffrage and aim to continue their battle to achieve gender equality for all.

History of Women’s Equality Day

Before moving on, let’s first read about the history of Women’s Equality Day and how it all started.

• Women’s Equality Day has been celebrated ever since its inception in 1971.
• August 26, 1970, marked the 50th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment of the US Constitution.
• To hold celebrations for this important moment in history, the National Organization for Women (NOW) called for women to organise a strike for equality.
• Thousands of women participated in peaceful demonstrations and rallies in numerous towns and cities.
• The strike encouraged the government and organisations to support women’s rights in different ways.
• The strike also helped to secure the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment by Congress in 1971-72.
• In 1971, at the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug, the US Congress designated August 26 as the official day to celebrate Women’s Equality Day. The resolution was officially passed in 1973.
• The date was selected after careful consideration to commemorate the 19th Amendment of the Constitution.

Also Read: Essay on Women’s Day in 200 and 500 words

“We are struggling for a uniting word, but the good news is that we have a uniting movement.”
-Emma Watson

Significance of Women’s Equality Day

The day is celebrated not only to highlight the importance of women in the political sphere. For a long time, women were kept away from political life as it was believed they are made for managing the household and this led to a demand for requisite political rights and representation for women in the US. By the early 20th century, other countries like Finland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom had made it legal to vote for women and it was through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution that voting rights to women were first introduced in 1878 in the US. However, it failed to gain traction at that point in time. It was only when women started participating in World War I, that their efforts and contributions truly came to light and the women’s suffrage movement began gaining support. Hence, this day is observed every year to highlight the importance of women’s involvement in the political arena and also as a day of equality between the genders. 

 “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”
— B. R. Ambedkar

Also Read: International Women’s Day: History & Significance

How to Celebrate Women’s Equality Day

The world holds celebrations in honour of Women’s Equality Day in different ways. For instance, the USA commemorates this day through strikes, protests and public rallies. This helps in raising a voice against the oppressed and bringing such issues to the limelight. Here are some ways you can celebrate Women’s Equality Day with your friends, family, and loved ones.

• You can educate yourself as well as your family and friends about the various challenges women face globally.
• You can attend events and workshops to educate yourself about women’s equality and other related topics.
• To make changes at the ground level, you can
• Another way to celebrate this day is to share stories, posts, and videos on your social media accounts.
• You can shop from women-owned brands and small businesses.

Also Read: Essay on Women Empowerment in English

How Can You Show Solidarity?

To show solidarity on this day, there are certain things you can do –

1. Internationally, purple is a colour symbolizing women’s equality which originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union in the UK in 1908 and signifies justice and dignity.
2. You may get a purple rubber or latex band and wear it on your wrist.
3. You might also wear a plain purple top or T-shirt with a ‘women empowerment’ quote on it. 
4. One of the easiest ways to show solidarity is by tying a purple ribbon on your arm or wrist or wearing a purple scarf around your neck or on your head
5. Attend virtual conferences and seminars by US universities, women’s organisations and rights groups.
6. Find books on change-makers and suffragists to fight for gender equality in the world. Books like Second Sex, The Color Purple and The Persistence of Gender Inequality are some of the best books on gender injustice and inequality.

On this Women’s Equality Day, let’s celebrate the achievements of the heroic women who fought for equal rights to make sure no women in the world is oppressed. This was all about Women’s Equality Day. For more information about such informative articles, check the trending events page of Leverage Edu.