“Remember the ladies.” Abigail Adams famously wrote to her husband.
Well. Gonna burst some bubbles here, but the men-folk that were working hard writing a new constitution when she wrote that had no intention of “remembering the ladies.”
And so the work began.
With more defeats then victories is seems like, the 19th Amendment extending the voting power to women was not passed until June 4, 1919. Then there was more hard work with seemingly more setbacks then victories to get it fully ratified.
That did not happen until August 18, 1920.
That was (nearly) a hundred years ago. That is 1,200 months. Not factoring in leap years, that is 36,500 days.
To put things more in perspective, the women that started the suffrage movement did not live to see the conclusion. Those that did live to see the conclusion had not been born yet when it started. “We were not ‘given’ anything” any of them would likely snap. “We went out and TOOK it.”
36,500 days. 1,200 months. One hundred years later and we’re still not getting paid fairly. We’re still fighting to have autonomy over our own bodies. Women of all color and creeds are still facing harassment, domestic abuse and poverty with little resources. Even more disgustingly, we’re Still getting blamed in some way when we’re attacked.
One hundred years…and the battle still rages. It is no wonder that some are exhausted and at the end of their energy. Which is why, for today at least, I am taking some time to quietly reflect on these stock photos. These women, many never named, are not just why I can vote. I can now also own property. I can sign contracts and open my own bank accounts without a male co-signer. For all their flawed and cringe worthy racist views, they are why I, a century later, can live the life that I have.
go raibh maith agat, ladies.
Thank you.
The battle will resume tomorrow.
