Random Thoughts on Women's Equality Day 2013

In this year's celebration of Women's Equality Day, established by a joint resolution of Congress, in1971 designating August 26 of each year as Women's Equality Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Equality_Day --

various thoughts are shared, among others:

This year, we celebrate Women’s Equality Day on the eve of the 50^th Anniversary of the March on Washington, where Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. stood before a crowd of hundreds of thousands, and delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Among those visionary civil rights leaders were courageous women, like Dr. Dorothy Height, whom you can see standing on the podium supporting Dr. King as he speaks.

Whether through the Women’s Suffrage Movement, or the Civil Rights Movement, we are reminded of those women, and men who have worked so hard to make our country more equal. We look back at our history to inspire our future.

See in full: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/08/26/celebrating-women-s-equality-day

Monday marked Women’s Equality Day, 93 years to the day since the ratification of the 19th amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote. Women have made huge strides since then: they now make up about half of the workforce, hold half of middle management jobs, and are graduating college at rapid rates.

But much work remains to be done if women are to be truly made economically equal with their male colleagues. Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/08/26/2528721/womens-equality-day-policies-help-make-women-economically-equal/ –

What does investing in women and in their ability to advocate for themselves mean for the world? In Caribou, Maine, where I'm from, girls had two choices when they were growing up - who they would marry and how many children they would have. There were many "invisible women" who lacked access to resources, powerful female role models and, above all, choice. My mother encouraged me to advocate for myself and for those who felt invisible. As the CEO of WomanCare Global, a non-profit women's health company focused on delivering high-quality healthcare products, I believe that empowering women by ensuring their reproductive choice is critical for women who simply want to provide a better quality of life for their children and ultimately, themselves. On a global scale, an investment in female empowerment ensures healthier, wealthier and better educated communities.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/saundra-pelletier/womens-equality-day-mobil_b_3810279.html

See also the following: http://www.nwhm.org/blog/celebrate-equality-day/

http://feministing.com/2013/08/26/happy-women-equality-day/