Life
It's about celebrating *every* kind of woman.
Aug. 26 marks the anniversary of the day on which the 19th Amendment, which gave women across America the right to vote, was adopted to the U.S. Constitution. It's known as Women's Equality Day, and tends to be a day of celebration and empowerment — and frustration, as the fact that women remain pretty deeply unequal in America is brought to the forefront of conversation. But when it comes celebrating all womanhood on the weekend, there's another agenda beyond simply hoping for better gender equality, an agenda that focuses on the inequalities faced by every kind of woman — not just white, straight, cisgender ones.
The fight for inclusivity within the women's equality movement has a long history, far beyond the 19th Amendment itself. These days it manifests as intersectional feminism, in which feminists are called upon to recognize the many different forms of discrimination and prejudice that mean that, for instance, Latinas across the United States face the worst wage gaps of any race (an average of 54 cents to every dollar earned by white men). To truly act for women's equality and make Aug. 26 a day of worthwhile celebration, you need to celebrate Women's Equality Day in an inclusive way. Not sure how to do that? Here's a guide.
Spread The Voices Of Women Of Color
The voices of women of color have been systematically erased and forcibly ejected from discussions about women's equality for an extremely long time. To celebrate Women's Equality Day inclusively, don't speak for them: uplift their own work and listen when they speak. Buy their work, like books to learn about race instead of asking someone to explain it to you. Listen to podcasts, pay for their art, invite them to speak and contribute to projects, support their communities (the Audre Lord Project, for example, is a community center for LGBTQ women of color in NYC). If you're a white woman, maybe sit down and be quiet for a bit, and learn from your sisters who don't have the privileges you do.
Look To The Statistics
What's the true state of gender equality across all stages? You might be surprised. To know some of the truth, go to the numbers. Women in 2022, for instance, earned an average of 83 cents to the dollar of white men in America; specifically, however, the U.S. census found that Black, Native American, and Hispanic women received much less compared to white men, and less even when compared against men in their own races. Studies on the earnings of transgender women are small, but one in 2018 found that they risk losing up to one third of their earnings when they transition. This is only one small lens through which you can obtain the lay of the land: go digging for data on anything from house ownership to domestic violence to see the true picture of equality in America through the eyes of as many women as possible.
Involve Disabled Women
"There are striking similarities between feminist women’s rights and disability rights struggles, and each of these can provide an insight into the other," argues Agness Chindimba, a disability rights activist. "Both feminist and disability movements are about challenging the status quo where power is distributed unequally, and advocating for social justice." However, women with disabilities have often felt left behind by the pursuit of women's equality: The Women's March was criticized for not including disability rights in its platform, and women with disabilities are far more likely to live in poverty than men — the likelihood is 1.4 times higher, according to data from 2021. This Women's Equality Day, make your celebrations accessible and disabled-friendly, examine your own ableist attitudes, and recognize that women with disabilities are women too.
Donate To Institutions That Help All Women
If you have a bit of spare cash on the 26th, it's worth giving it to organizations that strive for inclusivity and work for every woman worldwide, regardless of age, race, class, sexuality or any other factor. Planned Parenthood in the U.S. is a good start, but if you feel like broadening your remit, try the National Organization for Women, the Global Fund for Women, the Association for Women's Rights In Development, the International Alliance of Women, or search for other feminist organizations in your area that welcome donations and volunteers.
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