HOLIDAY-ISH: International Women’s Day
Mrs. Shura, Mrs. Zitterbart, and Mrs. Chamberlain are three women in our school community that deserve recognition.
Today is International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the accomplishments of women around the world.
Here in America, the fight for equality still goes on, but it all started more than a century ago, and many women who should have their names recognized go unnoticed.
In the early 1900’s, the decrease of a variety of rights for women had begun and there seemed to be no other choice other than to protest or to stay silent about the inequality. The ironic thing about this is the connection to the 14th amendment?
If you’re familiar with the 14th amendment, it says, “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” The ratification of the amendment did not come to be until 1868, and by then women’s right to vote was not yet approved. An amendment calling for women’s suffrage came in 1878, but it wasn’t certified for another 42 years, in 1920.
In 1908, the demand for women’s rights in the U.S. began to rise and protests turned into riots, which also led to the march for equality. In New York City, 15,000 women protested for their rights.
One woman who should be appreciated more is Susan B. Anthony. Susan B. Anthony was a women’s rights activist who fought for equal pay, abolition, and the rights of labor. She also created the National Woman Suffrage Association.
When the 19th amendment was ratified, it only allowed women of a certain race to vote, which was still very unfair. Even if women got the right to vote it still didn’t satisfy their needs completely.
They tried to get their voices heard, and in the 1960s a landmark voter’s rights act as passed, which, among other things, allowed all women to vote.
There are still women who put in effort to continue the fight, even if in America we have more solid rights. Why? Because there are still places on earth where women are sadly under strict laws they are required to follow. It doesn’t take long to realize what’s right and what’s wrong towards human beings.
All women have made at least a few accomplishments that you may never have appreciated, which is why on March 8th we celebrate the struggles women have pushed through. Take some time out of your day and realize how much women have done for our community.
