United States celebrates women in history during March
July 13, 1848 marks the beginning of the women’s rights movement in the United States.
On this date, Elizabeth Cady Stanton made plans with a group of friends to host a convention in Seneca Falls, New York, to list their grievances toward the lack of freedom women were given.
Conventions, like the one in Seneca Falls, began to spread around the country with the help of leaders like Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth, according to nwhp.org, the National Women’s History Project.
In 1920, the ratification of the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, declaring, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
The women’s rights movement resurged in the 1960s, as many women started to speak out against the limited career options available to women.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on sex, race, religion or national origin.
In 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments was passed, prohibiting sex discrimination in all aspects of education programs that receive federal support, according to justice.gov.
Working toward gender equality continues to be an important aspect of politics, as issues concerning women’s rights and equality remain pertinent in the United States and many other parts of the world.
In 2016, March is recognized as National Women’s History Month, and International Women’s Day was celebrated around the world on March 8.