- 2020 marks the 100th
anniversary of the 19th Amendment,
which guaranteed women,
or at least white women,
the right to vote.
Since then a lot has changed
for women in America,
and so has the conversation
surrounding their rights.
Let's take a look at some
of the biggest developments
in the fight for equality
over the past century.
(gentle music)
After the Industrial Revolution,
the role of many women in society
was that of the housewife.
However, as education and
commercial enterprises expanded,
women began entering the
workforce in the 20th century.
Unfortunately, employers
found a number of reasons
to pay women lower wages
than their male counterparts.
This stemmed from the assumption
that men had to be paid
to support a family
and most women who entered
the pre-World War II workforce
were single and therefore
could be paid less.
This fight still exists today
and is where the phrase equal
pay for equal work stems from.
Women remain underrepresented
in the workforce,
especially as you look
up the corporate ladder.
One study found that white
men make over 65% of senior VP
and executive level positions
compared to 19% of white women.
and women of color only make
up 4% of executive positions.
It's impossible to make a
decision that benefits everybody
if only a portion of the
population is at the table.
And if you're the only woman in the room,
studies show you are more likely
to be the target of microaggressions,
sexual harassment, and have
your abilities questioned.
This is why representation matters.
One of the most important developments
for equality in education was Title IX.
This federal law states
that no person in the U.S.
can be excluded on the basis of sex
from any education program or activity
that receives federal funding.
Before Title IX, it was perfectly legal
for some colleges and universities
to refuse to admit women.
Now, more women than men
are enrolled in college
and more women are
going into traditionally
male-dominated fields, such
as science and technology.
Title IX also increased access to sports
and athletic scholarships
for female athletes.
While the 19th Amendment may
be turning 100 this year,
there's another amendment
that's almost as old,
but you may be surprised
is still not technically federal law.
The Equal Rights Amendment
was first introduced
to Congress in 1923.
The amendment would federally
ban sex discrimination,
and some legal scholars
say it could prevent
the rollback of laws
protecting women's rights,
such as the Supreme Court's
decision on Roe v. Wade
and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
The amendment officially
passed both houses in 1972
and created a seven-year
deadline for states to ratify it,
meaning 3/4 or 38 out
of 50 state legislatures
officially approved the measure.
While it seemed destined for ratification,
the amendment failed to
receive state approval
in time to meet the deadline.
In early 2020, Virginia became the 38th
and final state needed
to ratify the amendment,
and the U.S. House of Representatives
voted to remove the deadline.
The bill's fate now lies in the Senate.
A total of 26 States have
passed Equal Rights Amendments
for their state constitution,
but without a federal ERA,
the only right that the U.S. Constitution
explicitly applies
equally to men and women
is the right to vote.
So, as we celebrate this anniversary,
it's important to remember
that the fight for equal rights
is far from over.
What issues surrounding women's
rights are important to you?
