Join Me in Celebrating Women’s Equality Day

The first time I saw a bumper sticker that said A woman’s place is in the House—and the Senate, I admit that it made me chuckle. Then it made me think (which makes it a perfect bumper sticker).

On Sunday, August 26, we celebrate Women’s Equality Day, which is the anniversary of when the 19th Amendment that guaranteed women the right to vote was adopted into the Constitution. There’s even a movement to make Women’s Equality Day a federal holiday by 2020, which will be the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment becoming law.

Currently, there are 84 women serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (19.3%) and 23 women in the U.S. Senate (23%), plus women governors, state legislators, mayors, etc. In the workplace, women comprise 47% of the total workforce. In my own organization, 48% of Home Helpers? Home Care franchise owners, 63% of our National Support Center staff and the vast majority of our Exceptional Caregivers are women.

We’ve come a long way, especially in the generations since my mother’s. Today, I know that momentum will continue and it’s gratifying to know that my daughter and granddaughter will have opportunities summarized by this:  “A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.”

As women, that’s all we’ve ever asked. We’re certainly not playing on a completely level field yet, but we’re getting closer every day.