Women’s Equality Day

Women in America and around the world have come a long way in the last century. This year celebrates the centennial for the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. It seems crazy in 2020 to imagine women not having the right to vote since women demand equality in all whims of life. Women’s Equality Day is celebrated every August 26th and commemorates the passage of women’s suffrage in the U.S. In fact, Congress designated August 26th as Women’s Equality Day in 1971. 
In the early 19th century, American women began organizing political groups to demand rights and representation. By the early 1900s, several countries, including Finland and the U.K., had legalized voting for women as the female movement took over the world. The 19th amendment was first introduced to the Constitution in 1878, but it took some convincing from thousands of women to persuade Congress into signing the bill. The deciding vote for the 19th amendment was made by a Tennessee man, Harry T. Burn, whose mother’s plea to support the movement changed history forever. He switched his vote at the last minute. Mothers really do know best! 
If you’re a woman and reading this, we encourage you to celebrate this holiday by registering to vote! Women fought for decades to win the right to vote. Please do your part and honor these women and the sacrifices they made by registering to vote for this big election year. Another way to celebrate is to support women-owned companies. Lastly, make sure to thank all of the strong women in your life. A mother, a grandmother, a sister, a friend - take some time to thank them for all that they do for others. 
At A Step Ahead East Tennessee, we are pro-women and fight for women to be equal every day! We prioritize women’s health and will always continue to do so. We offer free long-acting reversible contraceptives to women who cannot afford birth control. We even provide free rides to doctor’s appointments. If you would like to get involved or if you would like to request services from A Step Ahead, visit our website for more information.