By Seth Kahan

Passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment guarantees all American women the right to vote.  The federal government proclaimed the amendment incorporated into the Constitution on August 26, 1920.

Amendment XIX to the US Constitution:

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. 

In 1971 at the behest of Bella Abzug, US Congresswoman, August 26 was declared Women’s Equality Day. That’s today!

So, what will you do about it? Give voice to your support. Make it known to your colleagues and family that this day is important to you. Celebrate the progress made and renew your commitment to secure equal rights for women.

On the one hand we live in an age of unprecedented opportunity for women, and enjoy their leadership in almost every major sector. On the other, on average women are paid 77 cents for every dollar paid to men, have less access to the higher paid occupations upon graduation, and suffer less opportunity for promotion. The vast majority of workplaces do not provide adequate infrastructure to allow women to mother and work simultaneously.  In this day and age it is unconscionable.

Every day history is made in small moments. Make today count. Resolve to start a conversation, show your support for women, name the world you want for yourself, your children, and their children – say it out loud: women deserve equal pay, equal freedom, and equal opportunity!

One of the best things we can do is raise our young men to understand the value of girls and women.

Seth and son Gabe

—Seth Kahan (Seth@VisionaryLeadership.com) helps leaders identify, influence, and leverage emerging trends for business growth. But he can still hang out and tell stories.