Since 1971, Women’s Equality Day has been celebrated in the United States since August 26. This date was chosen to memorialize the 19th Amendment that granted women the right to vote. Achieving this milestone required several generations of its supporters’ lengthy struggle and strength through protests, lectures, and even civil disobedience engagement just to achieve their goal
Before, the primary and prominent struggle of women was for their suffrage. Now, women are actively fighting against many forms of violence, discrimination, inequality, and dreadful cultural practices that violate human rights and impede them from reaching their full potential for attaining not only gender equality but also for meeting a wide range of opportunities and development goals.
Involvement of both women and young girls to areas wherein recognizing them as part of the decision-making process is a must in order to eliminate inequality. In this case, it is important to leave no woman behind.
There are actually a lot of women who chose not to be left behind. Instead, they moved forward and served as a great example to other women especially when it comes to intelligence, strength, and power. Just like Betty Freidan, who strikes for the equality of women with her three primary goals: free abortion, equal opportunity in the workplace, and free childcare.
There are also the famous five Filipina women who helped shape Philippine Feminism— Patricia Licuanan, Teresita Deles, Katrina Constantino David, Sister Mary John Mananzan, and Slyvia Claudio.
See? They are only some of the empowered women who greatly contributed to lifting the banner that women and young girls can stand and do everything in their own stride.
No matter what happens, women and girls must not forget that they are a part of society regardless of age, skin, body, sexuality, and most especially gender. They must not tolerate discrimination as it clearly leads to them being left behind.
To women of all generations, may you always have the strength to fight back against situations that make you a victim who is blamed; against policies that prevent you to speak and act; against social norms which implies that being a woman itself is a weakness; and against people who invalidate your abilities and strength as a woman.
“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” – Michelle Obama
Edited by Lois Mauri Anne L. Liwanag