Women’s Equality Day: Honoring the Past, Powering the Future
On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was officially certified, granting women the constitutional right to vote after decades of organizing, protests, and persistence. In recognition of this milestone, Congress designated August 26th as Women’s Equality Day in 1971, thanks to the leadership of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY). The day was created not only to commemorate the progress made but also to remind us of the continuing fight for equality in every sphere of life (National Women’s History Alliance).
While the 19th Amendment marked a turning point, it did not guarantee voting rights for all women. Women of color continued to face entrenched barriers from Jim Crow laws to intimidation at the ballot box. As Valethia Watkins, associate professor at Howard University, notes: “For Black women, our right to vote is only secured with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965” (Source: International Women’s Day).
This history reminds us that progress has always been uneven and that the work of achieving equality is ongoing.
Why Women’s Equality Day Matters Today
In 2025, the fight for equality is still urgent: From maternal health disparities to attacks on voting rights, reproductive freedoms, and public education, women, especially Black, Latinx, and women of color, continue to bear the brunt of systemic inequities.
Women are still underrepresented in leadership, underpaid in the workplace, and expected to shoulder disproportionate responsibility for caregiving. In today’s tumultuous political climate, hard-won rights are increasingly under threat.
But if history teaches us anything, it is this: when women organize, lead, and care for their communities, change follows.
FIERCE’s Work: Carrying the Torch Forward
At FIERCE Advocates, we honor the legacy of Women’s Equality Day by building on the struggles of those who came before us. Our work amplifies the voices of Black, Latinx, and other parents and caregivers of color, advancing equitable access to education and health for families.
Through programs like:
Women’s Sanctuary: creating healing spaces where Black and Latina women can rest, build community, and emerge with greater collective power.
CoCo Doulas: training and supporting doulas to fight racial disparities in maternal and infant health.
Leadership Development and the Community Education Leadership Institute (CELI): equipping parents and caregivers to step into decision-making spaces and shape policies that impact their children and communities.
Our mission is deeply tied to the spirit of Women’s Equality Day: reclaiming power, transforming systems, and building wellness-centered communities where families can thrive.
As long as barriers remain, from the ballot box to the birthing room, the fight continues.
Women’s Equality Day is about recommitting to the unfinished work of equity. At FIERCE Advocates, we believe the path to equality is collective. When parents and caregivers rise, when women of color lead, our whole community moves closer to justice.
This Women’s Equality Day, we honor the resilience of those who paved the way and we rededicate ourselves to forging a future where every family has the chance to flourish.
Learn more about our programs, get involved in advocacy, or support our mission.
