Women's Equality Day and Why We Need to Do Better

I first wrote this article in 2020; this is an updated version.

As a communicator, I am acutely aware of making sure that ALL stories are told, not just the stories of the privileged.

When my oldest son was born at just 24 weeks 28 years ago, we learned that he would have an only 50 percent chance of survival, and 50 percent chance of disability if he survived. Yet if he had been born a Black female, his chance of survival would have been vastly higher. Black female preemies have nearly twice the survival rate of white males.

Where else do Black females have twice the likelihood of succeeding as white men who are born with the privileges of their race and gender?

Today marks the 104th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, giving (mostly white) women the ability to vote. “Women’s Equality Day” became a thing in 1973, thanks to Congresswoman “Battling Bella” Abzug (D-NY), a champion for women and one of the first in Congress to support gay rights.

However, many women of color were unable to vote until much later. Millions of women, especially in the south, faced voter suppression measures that also disenfranchised Black men.

No mention or celebration of “Women’s Equality Day” is complete without acknowledging that most of the suffrage movement did not embrace and include women of color.

Native American women didn’t receive the right to vote in all states until 1957, and it wasn’t until 1965 that the Voting Rights Act enforced provisions against voter suppression. (Unfortunately, when the Supreme Court recently weakened the Voting Rights Act, it once again made it more difficult for women of color to vote in certain states.)

Here We Are, 104 Years Later

Think racism has been eradicated? Think again.

It starts in childhood. The American Academy of Pediatrics says racism increases risks of heart disease, depression, lower birth weights, worsened sleep, and lower self-esteem in children. Ta-Nahesi Coates’ letter-book to his son, Between the World and Me, is an example of the kind of conversation Black parents have to have with their kids. Most white kids can wander the world unconcerned about being arrested, hurt, or even killed.

Generational wealth and educational inequities present further obstacles. In 2019, Black households in the United States had a median wealth of $24,100 vs. $189,100 for white households. White college students are much more likely to receive financial health from family than Black women. Generational wealth and educational opportunities are privileges many of us take for granted.

It continues into the workforce. Although Black women are more likely to be in the labor force and work more hours, they face a higher gender wage gap now than ever. White women make 76 percent of white men’s salaries, whereas Black women earn only 66 percent of what white men do, even after controlling for education, experience, and location. The inequality between Black women and white men in the labor force continues to rise, while the gap between white men and women is slowly narrowing.

And into leadership…Black women occupy only 2 percent of U.S. executive roles, 3.2 percent of Fortune 500 board seats, and 5.3 percent of managerial and professional positions. More than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies have no women of color on their boards.

Companies don’t walk their talks…Here’s a classic undermining phrase I've heard when companies discuss equity and inclusion or how to hire more women or people of color: “We always hire the most qualified person.” The underbelly of this comment is that equity & inclusion programs mean (1) women and minorities are hired even though they are not qualified…and (2) the job market contains no qualified women and people of color. Of course this is not true. We have so far to go to achieve women’s equality in the workforce.

Facing the Effects of Racism and White Privilege

While Black and brown women continue to face overwhelming obstacles because of white privilege and racism, they must overcome far more to succeed.

You only need to look to the racist attacks on Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Meghan Markle, Roxane Gay, or Ayanna Presley to see the intense racism Black women face daily.

And then there's our candidate for president and current VP, Kamala Harris, who has faced racist and sexist attacks since Day 1. First #45 questions her biracial identity, in spite of the fact that 10.2% of Americans identify as multiracial, an increase of 276% since 2010. She is one of the most qualified candidates for president ever, as seen in this list of her accomplishments.

The onslaught of racist and sexist attacks on Harris are gathering speed as her popularity rises.

Ginger Rogers said, “I do everything the man does, only backwards and in high heels!” It seems like Black women and girls must not only do everything backwards…but also land a double-twisting, double-somersault maneuver (a la #BlackGirlMagic superstar Simone Biles).

Whenever someone shares an article about Black women achieving a major milestone or doing something to improve the world, the haters come out of their corners. Two years ago Melinda Gates wrote about Serena Williams teaming up with Mark Cuban to end the Black maternal mortality crisis (Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth than white women). Soon Serena was criticized for focusing on Black women. Similar comments arise when African-American women become the first to command ships or medical associations, win Nobel prizes, or sit on Fortune 500 boards.

As Erika Jefferson, MBA commented, “If you have not been the first to accomplish something in a field dominated by white males, like science, engineering, or medicine, I don’t know how you could relate to understanding the gravity of what that means.”

I welcome the day when we do not have to talk about race or gender and we have no more milestones to reach…but we are so far from “Women’s Equality Day.”

Celebrating Success

Did you know that negative imagery of Black women appears twice as often in media and news as positive depictions?

Yet in spite of that, Black women become entrepreneurs six times faster than the national average.

It’s time to demand better representations of Black women in the news and popular culture. “The focus needs to be on the Black independent, educated, intelligent, strong queens that they are,” as Danyelle Johnson says in Capital News.

I cannot begin to express how excited I am about the prospect of having a Black, Asian-descent commander in chief! Imagine the role modeling she will do for children of all genders!

Back to the NICU

I suppose it’s easy for me to celebrate the fact that Black female preemies are nearly twice as likely to survive as white males, because my son did survive after an extremely difficult NICU stay. I’ve always found this statistical outcome to be a form of divine justice. It’s about time Black women got an edge in something and didn’t have to be Simone Biles to succeed. It’s preemie #Blackgirlmagic!

We can celebrate a real Women’s Equality Day when Black and brown women have a seat at the boardroom table; multiracial work teams become the new normal; it’s not unusual for employees to report to Black female managers; and Black, brown, and multiracial women don't have to endure harassment and abuse. Until that day, we must keep working. To quote Badass Michelle Obama, let's #DoSomething about it.

Let me know?if you can use help with communications, marketing, small business coaching, or leadership.

I help professional services firms and organizations avoid BORING and boost employee engagement, productivity, and readership. I translate technical, complex, and lackluster language into accessible, dynamic, story-driven text.

Fertile Ground Communications LLC?is a certified woman-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.