Women’s Equality Day marks the certification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920. This landmark amendment granted women the legal right to vote – an achievement decades in the making, led by the courage and determination of suffragists across the country.
However, while 1920 represented a pivotal step toward gender equality, the right to vote was not fully accessible to all women. Many women of color, particularly Black, Indigenous, Asian American, and Latina women, faced barriers such as discriminatory state laws, poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation at the polls. It was not until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that these systemic barriers began to be dismantled, ensuring broader access to the ballot box.
Additionally, while the right to vote was monumental, there were still many social and economic liberties that women were denied for decades still. For example, it was not until the Fair Housing Act of 1968 that discrimination in housing and financing illegal, removing obstacles to women obtaining mortgages. And, not until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 that it became illegal to deny women credit or require a male co-signer, allowing women legal access to their own credit.
Where We’re Going, Where We’ve Been
Women’s Equality Day serves as both a celebration of progress and a reminder of the ongoing work toward equity and inclusion. In 2024, women represented about 47% of all U.S. employees—about 79 million participating in the labor force—and make up the majority of the college-educated workforce. Yet, women in management, professional and related occupations earned about $0.74 for ever every dollar earned by men, in 2024. This is only $0.03 average increase in the last twenty years. Working women also still face many social pressures around child-and family-care. Women hold only 10.6% of Fortune 500 CEO positions and less than a third of global leadership roles. These disparities increase when accounting for women of color and working mothers.
Be Empowered; Empower Others
To commemorate this day, we’ve compiled a list of books, films, and resources that highlight voices, struggles, and achievements of women throughout history. We encourage you to explore these recommendations as a way to reflect, learn, and spark conversation.
Books
- Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World by Katherine Johnson, Laura Wall, and Chris Van Allsburg
- Winning the Vote: The Triumph of the American Suffrage Movement by Violet W. Johnson
- Call Me Miss Hamilton by Jessica Pare
- Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
- Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly
- Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
Children’s Books
- A is for Awesome! 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the World by Eva Chen
- Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge by Rachel Dougherty
- Feminist Baby Finds Her Voice! by Loryn Brantz
- Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
- What Is the Women’s Rights Movement? by Deborah Hopkinson
- Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai
- Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Carvallo
- Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Films
- Hidden Figures
- Suffragette
- The Color Purple
- A League of Their Own
- Mona Lisa Smile
- Little Women
- On the Basis of Sex
- Legally Blonde
- The Glorias
- She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry
Community-Minded
- Celebrate Women in Your Life
- Send a note of appreciation to women who have inspired or supported you.
- Support Local Women-Owned Businesses
- Blue Mountain Coffee House by Allison Boettcher
- Serves authentic Jamaican coffee and gourmet breakfast in a cozy setting
- Rohi’s Readery by Pranati Kumar Skomra
- A children’s bookstore focused on inclusive education and empowerment through literacy
- Queen of Sheba WPB by Lojo Washington
- A vibrant Ethiopian restaurant in West Palm Beach known for authentic flavors and cultural richness
- Blue Mountain Coffee House by Allison Boettcher
- Support Local Organizations that Empower Women and Girls
- Women’s Red Apple Foundation
- Women of Tomorrow
- Women United – United Way of Palm Beach County
- Host a Book Club or Film Screening
- Have a movie night or book club featuring one of our recommendations!
Resources:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/vote-not-all-women-gained-right-to-vote-in-1920
https://2021-2025.state.gov/national-womens-equality-day-2024
https://www.dpeaflcio.org/factsheets/professional-union-women
Content provided by our Culture of Inclusion Committee.
Check out our other blog articles HERE.