For many women in history, September was the month to reach new heights both literally and figuratively.
It is considered as a time for harvests in many cultures and for a number of history’s most memorable ladies, this is fitting designation because it is during this month when they watched all their hard work come to fruition.
Some reached the apex of their interest, some ventured into new frontiers and some led others to the future. To many, this is what we remember in September.
September 4, 1995: The Fourth World Conference on Women
The Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, is considered to be among the most important events of its kind.
Organized by the United Nations, this was attended by 17,000 participants from all over the world. It culminated five decades of legal advances fought for since the first global conference on women in Mexico City in 1975.
The highlight of this event was the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action by 189 countries. This serves as the fundamental policy document on gender equality.
This action plan tackles critical areas for women’s empowerment, including women and poverty, women and health, violence against women, education, and women’s training, among others.
September 14, 1975: Elizabeth Ann Seton Canonized
On this day, the Roman Catholic Church canonized New York-born Elizabeth Ann Seton in a ceremony at St. Peter Square.
As the first American-born saint who pioneered Catholic education, she opened the first Catholic girls’ school in the nation in Emmitsburg, Maryland. She established the first congregation of sisters, the Sisters of Charity.
The notable miracle healing of a 4-year-old leukemia patient in 1952 became the attribution of Seton’s intercession. It was the most significant influence on her beatification.
September 14, 1964: Helen Keller Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
On this day, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded Helen Keller the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her advocacy for individuals with disabilities.
Recognized for her humanitarian efforts despite her deafness and blindness, Keller traveled to 39 countries between 1939 and 1957 to discuss the challenges of people with disabilities. She was a popular figure in empowering the deafblind, not only through her philanthropic campaigns but also through her political views.
Apart from her campaign to aid the deafblind, she was known for being outspoken about her political views and promoting women’s right to vote, birth control, and labor and civil rights.
Keller received the award along with four other women, including Dr. Lena Edwards, Lynn Fontaine, Dr. Helen Taussig, and Leontyne Price.
September 19, 1893: New Zealand Grants Women the Right to Vote
These days, New Zealand is known for being a progressive country but it has had that reputation for quite a while.
It played an important role in pushing for women’s right to vote, which was essential in the global pursuit of equal rights.
On this day in 1893, the island nation became the first self-governing country to grant equal voting rights in parliament elections or the Electoral Act Law, signed by Governor Lord Glasgow.
A considerable part of this achievement was attributed to the years of effort in the women’s suffrage movement under the leadership of activist Kate Sheppard.
Through the compilation of massive petitions from 1891-1893, Sheppard called on Parliament to grant voting rights to women. Sheppard’s contribution to women’s rights in New Zealand is acknowledged in the country’s $10 banknote.
September 25, 1981: Sandra Day O’Connor Sworn in as the First Female U.S. Supreme Court Justice
September 25 is a monumental day for women involved with the judiciary. On this day, in 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court.
She first served as an associate justice from 1981 to 2006 before being nominated by President Ronald Reagan into the highest judicial position.
One of her notable contributions was her effort to pass a 1913 Arizona statute prohibiting women from working more than eight hours a day.
O’Connor was also a prominent name in giving women equal responsibility for joint property management with their spouses.
September 26, 1973: Billie Jean King Wins the “Battle of the Sexes”
On this day, tennis champion Billie Jean King defeated former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion Bobby Riggs in “The Battle of the Sexes.” This match was a highly publicized game in front of more than 30,000 spectators at Houston Astrodome.
Before challenging King, Riggs defeated the women’s number one Margaret Court. For King, another defeat may affect women’s self-esteem and put them back to a time when they were being looked down on in sports.
In addition, the symbolic win was also a great nod to the amendment of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed in the previous year. This law granted women equal access to athletics in high schools and colleges.
September 29, 1988: Stacy Allison Reaches Mt. Everest
On this day, Stacy Allison became the first American woman to reach the summit of the highest point on Earth, Mt. Everest, located at the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas.
The mountaineer from Oregon climbed the towering mountain at 29,035 feet above sea level for 29 days using the southeast ridge route. It took her two tries to reach the summit, but she finally completed her climb on September 19.
Allison is a member of the Northwest American Everest Expedition. Three days later, her teammate Peggy Luce Gudgell reached the summit and became the second American woman to climb the highest peak.
