Abigail Tobis ‘20, Editor-in-Chief
Women have continuously struggled throughout history in dealing with a barrage of sexism and discrimination. In 1919, women fought for the right to vote and to be headstrong and powerful, but both before and after that date, women have done amazing things to contribute to our world. Despite the struggles, women have proved those who considered them the subordinate/lesser sex, wrong and indicated all that women are capable of. Amelia Earhart, was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, Malala Yousafzai most bravely stood her ground and advocated for women’s education, Jane Austin produced her many amazing novels in a time when males considered themselves the only writers, and many more have slowly changed the way women are perceived in society. Here is a timeline of all of the amazing things that have happened for women, and the reasons why this month is one of celebration and all things female empowerment.
July 19-20, 1848 – The Seneca Falls Convention: Held in New York, this is the first women’s rights convention. There are 300 people in attendance, leading to the passing of the 19th Amendment.
January 23, 1851 – Elizabeth Blackwell: She is the first woman to graduate medical school and become a doctor in the U.S..
December 10, 1869 – Wyoming becomes the first state to allow women to vote.
May 15, 1869 – The National Woman Suffrage Association is founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
April 2, 1917 – Jeannette Rankin is the first woman to be elected to Congress.
April 18, 1920 – The 19th Amendment passes, and gives women the right to vote.
December 1, 1951 – Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on the bus to a white man, in a brave contribution to the Civil Rights Movement.
May 9, 1960 – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agrees to produce the first birth control pill.
June 10, 1963 – President John F. Kennedy signs the Equal Pay Act, prohibiting businesses from deciding wages based off of sex.
June 23, 1972 – Title IX of the education amendments is passed by President Richard Nixon. This states that no person should be denied benefits of or excluded from education based off of their sex.
January 22, 1973 – Roe V. Wade decision: declares that the Constitution protects a woman’s legal right to choose.
July 7, 1981 – The Sandra Day O’Connor is the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
March 12, 1933 – Janet Reno is the first female Attorney General of the United States.
January 23, 1997 – Madeleine Albright is the nation’s first female Secretary of State.
January 4, 2007 – Nancy Pelos is the first female Speaker of the House.
January 24, 2013 – The U.S. military removes the ban on women not being able to serve in combat positions.
July 26, 2016 – Hilary Clinton becomes the first woman to get a political nomination from a major political party.
Women have made major strides in terms of how they are viewed in the world in politics, business, society, science, culture, etc. There has been so much struggle, but also inspiration, fight and success, going from not being able to vote to now having had a woman to vote for as a presidential candidate. Let us use this month to celebrate all of the good that women have done and will continue to do as equals, be we even do it in heels.
Side panel: Why students at SLHS are proud to be a women
Senior Emily Romero: “I’m proud to be a woman because I am able to be strong and independent.”
Senior Allison Piggot: “I’m proud of where women are going career-wise in this day and age, and I’m excited to be working as a woman as well.”
Senior Allison Rehfield: I feel like it’s empowering because of all the fights women put up to get equal rights.”
Senior Ashley Koth: “I am proud to be a woman because we have gone through so much but in the end survived it with strength.”
Senior Sierra Steckle: “Women have proven throughout the decades that we are not weak and we can do as much as anyone else can.”
Photo courtesy of womenshistory.org
Lyon Life 