Yet women have come far since the stalled Equal Rights Amendment of 1972, and even further than in 1776, when Abigail Adams wrote to her husband, "In the new code of laws, remember the ladies and do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands."
We have so many brave women to thank, from the suffragettes who fought for women's right to vote, to the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, which fought for decent work hours and four paid holidays a year. From the feminists to the civil rights activists of the 1960s and 1970s. From the women who were the firsts – first female astronaut, carpenter, secretary of state — to the millions of women today who hold down one, two or three jobs, and still cook dinner, clean the house and attend their children's school performances.
One day, women's work will have the same economic value as men's. One day, girls will have so many role models they won't even notice. Until then, we have March, to remember and appreciate.
MARCH is Women's History Month. Some would say that half the world's population shouldn't need a designated month. That women's contributions to social justice, history, medicine, law, education, science, religion and the arts — not to mention to creating life — should be appreciated every day of the year. We agree.
But sadly, women and men are still not equally matched in important areas like salary, poverty rates and top-tier jobs. Or in recognition. Female basketball stars are not household names. Neither are female movie directors or entrepreneurs. While more women than men earn bachelor's and master's degrees, women still only make on average 75 cents for every dollar a man makes.
Yet women have come far since the stalled Equal Rights Amendment of 1972, and even further than in 1776, when Abigail Adams wrote to her husband, "In the new code of laws, remember the ladies and do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands."
We have so many brave women to thank, from the suffragettes who fought for women's right to vote, to the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, which fought for decent work hours and four paid holidays a year. From the feminists to the civil rights activists of the 1960s and 1970s. From the women who were the firsts – first female astronaut, carpenter, secretary of state — to the millions of women today who hold down one, two or three jobs, and still cook dinner, clean the house and attend their children's school performances.
One day, women's work will have the same economic value as men's. One day, girls will have so many role models they won't even notice. Until then, we have March, to remember and appreciate.
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