A Celebration of Women's Equality

I have long been inspired by those who fought for equality during the women’s suffrage movement – Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Alice Paul, Ida B. Wells, Lucretia Mott and so many others. And so today - August 26, 2020 - on this the 100th anniversary of women’s equality, I’m celebrating and reflecting on those who dedicated their lives to secure the right to vote.

The 19th amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920 and certified on August 26, 1920, establishing women's right to vote. The battle for this right lasted decades, during which women advocated for equal treatment as citizens, protested the absurd ideologies against them, and applied necessary pressure on American men to create change. I've always been interested in this period in history and thanks to this milestone today, have developed an even greater appreciation for the bold, fearless women, feminists and abolitionists to whom we owe the rights and freedoms we enjoy in 2020.

Let us not forget however, that while the 19th amendment clearly served as a steppingstone for women’s equality, it did not secure equality for all women. Black and brown women had to continue to fight for equality well after 1920 and did not have equal voting rights until the Voting Rights Act became law in 1965. Even today, our society is still striving to ensure that all are heard and treated equally, and we know there is work to do.

A century after the suffragists so fearlessly led us to that pivot first step toward equality for women, women are leaders in elective office. In 2020, 26 women occupy seats in the U.S Senate, and 103 women are in the U.S House of Representatives, the most women ever to serve in Congress at one time. These women are using their voices to make change and decisions on behalf of the American people. I am proud to say that, of the amazing women leaders in our nation, 100% of secretaries of state, 69% of U.S. senators, and 52% of female business leaders are former Girl Scouts. For over 100 years, our Girl Scout movement has been growing girls into great women leaders.

The momentum for greater women’s equality has never wavered; we continue to ignite change because women and girls deserve equal access and opportunity. Only 7% of Fortune 500 companies have female leadership and women working full time in the U.S. are paid only 82 cents to every dollar earned by men — a gap that’s even wider for women of color. Women now can make laws and elect lawmakers, yet progress remains.  

Despite the challenges, I am optimistic about the future and I see change, thanks in part to girls I meet through Girl Scouts, girls who are striving to be trailblazers in their own right, like the women who fought for our right to vote. Committed to providing a community of empowerment for all girls, Girl Scouts encourages female activism and advocacy. We want girls to discover what they are passionate about, find their voices, learn skills - and be strong leaders today and in the future. Despite the fact that they are not yet of legal voting age, Girl Scouts are lending their voices on issues they care about - the environment, education, racial justice, equal rights - and their optimism and activism assures me that our future is bright.

When I was a Girl Scout, I earned The Heart Award, which was a local recognition for community service and civic participation.  To meet the civic participation requirement, I helped my father deliver pamphlets during his campaign for State Representative.  For the service component, my troop and I collected books and donated them to our local library for a used book sale. Both activities challenged me to put myself “out there” in ways that I hadn’t done before. I got to observe what it took to run for office and was fascinated by the entire process of campaigning.  I had to ask my friends and nieghbors for used books, and then with my troop mates, decide how we were going to organize the sale. Looking back, I know that this and many other Girl Scout experiences contributed to my interest in activism and showed me the importance of using my voice. If I didn’t speak up and didn’t ask, I wouldn’t get book donations.  If I didn't share my dad's campaign materials, people couldn't consider voting for him. I used those same skills over and over again - as I ran for Student Council office in high school, negotiated the salary in my first job offer, advocated for advancement in my early career and participated as an active member of my local community. In communities all across our nation, Girl Scouting continues to provide opportunities like I had to girls today.

I have spent my career in an environment full of women supporting women, and I know I am here today because of the confidence, courage, and character of the women who came before me. The suffragettes secured that most basic right for women and it’s been generations of women and girls, like Girl Scouts, who have taken us from there. Where we, as a society, stand tomorrow in the fight for greater women’s equality will be the direct result of confident, courageous young girls of character who are finding their voices in our community now.  There's nothing better than the front row seat I have in the Girl Scout movement, exercising the rights my foremothers fought so hard for, while doing everything in my power today to ensure girls have a world in which their leadership can flourish tomorrow. Strong, courageous and confident girls will truly make the world a better place.