Written by Angie King
Posted in Society

August 26 is celebrated as the anniversary date of the passage in 1920 of the 19th amendment to the United States Constitution, giving women the right to vote in federal elections. California gave women suffrage in 1911, as a number of western states had already done, but it took another 9 years for the rest of the nation to follow suit.

Immediately after passage women registered and voted in large numbers, ran for and were elected to office and were instrumental in passage of a number of laws to improve the lot of women workers, children and society in general. By the 1970s, there was talk of parity in Congress, a woman president, although that groundswell of enthusiasm has ebbed now and that dream has receded. If we can just keep the gains we made…

What are those gains? The San Luis Obispo chapter of the National Organization for Women asked the “woman on the street” these questions in honor of Women’s Equality Day:

How would your life be different if you had been born the opposite sex?
How has the Women’s Rights movement affected your own life?
What impact has the Women’s Rights movement had on American society?

Here’s a sampling of their answers:

How would your life be different?
- I would not have been harassed on the job.
- I would have had the opportunity to make more money.
- I would have been more influential.
- I would have felt more confident to run for office.
- I would not have experienced the joys of motherhood and bonding with my son.

How has the Women’s Rights movement affected your own life?
- It made me a life long member of NOW.
- It has empowered me.
- It has made me proud to be a woman.
- I can stand up for my rights and the rights of others.
- It gave me confidence.
- I have been able to accomplish more in my life.

What impact has the Women’s Rights movement had on American society?
- A lot has been accomplished, but so much still needs to be done.
- It scared the male-dominated government.
- It has helped women apply themselves to any job or education they choose.
- If more women were in government, war would not drag on as long as it does.
- It freed men.

What do you think?

Submitted by the SLO Chapter ofNOW.