Celebrate Women’s Equality Day
Things you should know when talking to your Girl Scouts.
Questions? Email us at customercare@gsema.org.
August 26 is Women’s Equality Day! We invite you to celebrate this revolutionary moment of commemoration by learning about the 19th Amendment and the women’s suffrage movement.
What is Women’s Equality Day?
Women’s Equality Day commemorates the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits states from depriving citizens of the right to vote based on their sex.
When did August 26 officially become Women’s Equality Day?
August 26 officially became Women’s Equality Day in 1973 when Congress approved a resolution to a proclamation made by President Richard Nixon in 1972. Prior to President Nixon’s proclamation, Congresswoman Bella Abzug introduced one in 1971 and again in 1973 to designate August 26 as Women’s Equality Day.
The 19th Amendment did not allow all women the right to vote.
- Native American women were not granted the right to vote until 1924, following the passage of the Snyder Act. However, individual states could still bar Native American women from voting until as late as 1962.
- Chinese American women were not granted the right to vote until 1943, when the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed.
- Japanese American women and other Asian American women were not granted the right to vote until 1952 when the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 was passed.
- African American and Latina women were not granted the right to vote until 1965, following the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
- The 1975 extension of the Voting Rights Act required that voter registration materials and ballots be translated into Asian, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Spanish languages.
American women could run for office before they could vote.
- In 1866, Elizabeth Cady Stanton became the first woman to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. She received 24 votes of the 12,000 that were cast.
- In 1872, Victoria Woodhull became the first woman to run for president of the United States.
- In 1877, Susanna Salter became the first woman mayor when she was elected in Argonia, Kansas.
How can I celebrate Women’s Equality Day?
Encourage your Girl Scouts to get involved with their local community and learn the basics of government proceedings by earning a badge!
- Daisy: Good Neighbor Badge OR Democracy for Daisies Badge.
- Brownie: Celebrating Community Badge OR Democracy for Brownies Badge.
- Junior: Inside Government Badge OR Democracy for Juniors Badge.
- Cadette: Finding Common Ground Badge OR Democracy for Cadettes Badge.
- Senior: Behind the Ballot Badge OR Democracy for Seniors Badge.
- Ambassador: Public Policy Badge OR Democracy for Ambassadors Badge.
