Women's Equality Day a reminder of the power of women's votes in protecting reproductive freedom

On this 84th anniversary of passage of the constitutional amendment giving American women the right to vote, Ipas urges women in the United States to use that right to protect their reproductive freedom. Because elected representatives make decisions that affect women's access to reproductive-health care, including safe, legal abortion, women's right to vote plays a critical role in shaping their reproductive lives.

In the 20th century women won the right to vote in many countries. Suffrage has led to increased educational and job opportunities and forced societies to reevaluate traditional views of women's roles, as women have fought for political and economic power.

The right to vote was not freely given by men in power in the United States. Suffragists paid for the vote through imprisonment, torture and rape. Their struggle paid off on August 26, 1920, when Congress approved the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Fifty-one years later, Congress designated August 26 as Women's Equality Day in commemoration of this important milestone.

Historically, U.S. women have used their hard-won right to vote in greater numbers than men. In the 2000 Presidential election, for example, 56.2% of eligible women voted, versus 53.1% of eligible men. In spite of this, women's political roles have been minimal. Not until 1984 did a major party choose a woman (Geraldine Ferraro of New York) to run for vice-president. And currently there are only 14 women in the U.S. Senate and 60 women in the House of Representatives. This trend of under-representation holds true throughout the world; in 1997, an average of only 12% of parliamentarians around the world were women.

It also helps explain continuing threats to women's reproductive health and freedom. In the United States, reproductive freedoms are being incrementally eroded through local, state and federal initiatives that lack respect for women's autonomy and basic human rights. Ipas urges all Americans to educate themselves about candidates' positions and to cast votes that support women's ability to exercise all their sexual and reproductive rights.

On Women's Equality Day, remember those who have sacrificed to bring women the right to vote. Honor their memory and continue to work for parity for women everywhere in all aspects of their lives.

Bibliography

Center for American Women in Politics (CAWP). 2004. Factsheet. Sex differences in voter turnout. New Brunswick, NJ, Eagleton Institute of Politics. Available online (last accessed May 14, 2007).

CAWP. 2004. Facts and findings. New Brunswick, NJ, Eagleton Institute of Politics. Available online (last accessed May 14, 2007).

Parliament of Australia. 1997. Women in the Parliaments of the World: 1997. Commonwealth of Australia. Available online (last accessed May 14, 2007).

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258