In 1971, the U.S.Congress declared the 26th of August: "Women's Equality Day."  August 26 is the anniversary of the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S.Constitution, which provides that, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex."

The 19th amendment to the Constitution marked the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement  that  began  at the world's first women's rights convention in Seneca Fall, New York.  On July 13, 1848, five women met  for tea in upstate  New York, and after discussing the role of women in American society, decided to announce a convention to discuss the social, civil and religious conditions and rights of women.  Convention participants drafted the Declaration of Sentiments.  Within this declaration, the call for universal  women's suffrage rang the loudest.  After a 72 year struggle the 19th amendment to the U.S.Constitution was ratified on August 26, 1920, ending gender-based denial of voting rights in the United States.

The sacrifices these early women suffragists made to win the right to vote for women is amazing and one that few people recognize today. In most cases, they gave their lives to the movement.  Becoming public advocates at the time meant they were living lives and playing roles in totally unconventional, unacceptable , I nappropriate manner.... to many they were pariahs.  It is impossible to even conceive of how  difficult  their  lives were  and what hardships they endured .  They did it so that the women of yesterday, today and tomorrow can exercise their right to vote.

So, on this Women's Equality Day, August 26, 2010 let us take a moment to pause and  reflect  on what they did and remember them with gratitude.