For the Northern half of the world, August is widely viewed as the end of summer.
To the English-speaking world, it is also the last stretch of days one must go through before the year starts winding down with months that end in “ber.”
It is a month of transitions. But there is another word for that: change. And many Augusts throughout human history have seen change for the lives of women.
August 6, 1965: The Voting Rights Act
In 1965, the United States of America was in the midst of much violence and unrest and the president at that time, Lyndon B. Johnson, hoped to usher in a more peaceful era by doing a very important deed: signing a piece of paper.
The document, of course, was the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark piece of federal legislation that sought to end long-standing racial discrimination in suffrage. On August 6, 1965, President Johnson allowed it to pass into law following several demonstrations led by Civil Rights leaders, the murder of Mississippi voting rights activists, and the white state troopers’ attack in Selma, Alabama.
This law was meant to eliminate the discriminatory literacy tests that had been implemented to disallow voting among African Americans. With it, people of color (including women) were finally able to have better control over their destinies through the elections.
Peace did not immediately follow after. To this day, race fueled aggressions even from forces of the state continue to affect people of color in the US. But the current state of things was a far cry from how it was before former president Johnson’s signature was written on that important piece of paper.
August 9, 1995: Roberta Cooper Ramo Becomes ABA President
On August 9, 1995, the first woman president of the American Bar Association (ABA) was sworn into office. Roberta Cooper Ramo from New Mexico was elected to the prestigious position and broke the male-dominated leadership since it was established in 1878.
It took more than 100 years for a woman to take on the position, which paved the way for greater female representation and participation in legal governance. Her achievement also helped shape the growing influence of women in law and justice in the United States. So far, 11 women presidents have led the ABA.
August 12, 1972: Founding of the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE)
On August 12, 1972, the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) was born as the largest businesswoman’s organization in the United States with 1,000 pioneer members.
Founded by Wendy Rue, a visionary entrepreneur and self-made millionaire, NAFE provides resources, support, and networking opportunities for women pursuing careers in business.
The organization advocates for women’s advancement in the corporate world and promotes gender equality in the workplace.
August 26, 1920: Ratification of the 19th Amendment
After decades of lobbying and protesting for women’s right to suffrage, which started in the 1800s, the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution on August 26, 1920, finally granted women the right to vote.
This historic achievement came after decades of activism and struggle by suffragists, including Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. They were the permanent figures who marched and practiced civil disobedience to achieve such radical change.
Its ratification guaranteed women the right to participate fully in the democratic process. This historic date was also the beginning of future advancements in women’s rights.
August 26, 1970: Women’s Strike for Equality
On August 26, 1970, the historic “Women’s Strike for Equality” took place in New York City, with over thirty thousand women joining. Led by feminist leader Betty Friedan, it coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of women’s suffrage in 1920.
The strike aimed to draw attention to issues such as workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, as well as equality in education that women had to experience back then.
This protest marked one of the largest demonstrations for women’s rights at the time and highlighted the ongoing struggle for gender equality. The Women’s Strike for Equality played a significant role in reviving the feminist movement in the 1970s.
August 26, 1971: Establishment of Women’s Equality Day
Following the momentous strike in 1970, Women’s Equality Day was established on August 26, 1971, to commemorate the certification of the 19th Amendment. Congresswoman Bella Abzug paved the way for this significant date, which aims to honor the achievements of the women’s rights movement and acknowledge the ongoing efforts toward gender equality.
The Women’s Equality Day is celebrated annually and serves as a reminder of the progress made and the work still needed to achieve full equality.
August 30, 1984: Judith A. Resnick’s Space Shuttle Discovery Flight
On August 30, 1984, Judith A. Resnick became the second American woman to travel to space, flying on the first flight of the space shuttle Discovery from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.
As a mission specialist on STS-41-D, Resnick was able to deploy a 102-foot-long solar sail designed to catch the sun’s energy.
Resnick was a woman pioneer in NASA’s space programs and has contributed to the history of space exploration and women’s participation in STEM fields. She died in the line of duty on January 28, 1986, along with six other crew members during her second mission aboard the space shuttle Challenger, which exploded seventy-three seconds into the flight.
