Women’s Equality Day celebrates more than 19th Amendment

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Tonisha Layne
  • ESC Equal Opportunity office
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Women's Equality Day calls attention to women's continuing efforts toward full equality in the United States.

For more than 155 million female U.S. residents, Aug. 26 marks Women's Equality Day and the laborious efforts that were made to bring their right to vote to full fruition.

Nearly 90 years ago the first steps towards women's suffrage were made. The suffrage movement was developed to increase women's equality and grant voting privileges. Women, such as Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony and Julia Ward Howe established platforms and campaigned across the country to raise awareness and to establish, as well as defend, a woman's right to vote.

Movement leaders and supporters encouraged women to register and then vote based on the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, which granted and protected the civil and political rights of all people born in the United States. All residents of the U.S. were asked to recognize the achievements and contributions made by women. The White House was picketed, marches were conducted and court cases were fought.

The tireless initiatives and supporters' efforts did not go unnoticed. In August 1920, the United States sanctioned the 19th Amendment, with a one-vote margin, and granted all U.S. citizens the right to vote.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.

"Many women have made history, paving the way for all of the future's women to make the world a better place; not only for women, but for society as a whole," said Master Sgt. Christine McGinley, 19th Airlift Wing ground safety craftsman and member of Women's Equality Day event committee. "Will you, your wife, sister, aunt, niece, daughter or friend be the next female to make the world better?"

History was made here at Little Rock AFB, Aug. 6, 1974, as Navy Ensign Jane Skiles successfully completed a C-130 pilot training course at Little Rock AFB, becoming the first female to qualify to fly the Hercules.

In fact, she had been in the first class of women to go through naval flight school the previous year, and her training at Little Rock also made her the first woman to go through any Air Force pilot training.

Little Rock Air Force Base celebrates Women's Equality Day with a cake-cutting ceremony at the Base Exchange 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 26. For more information about the event, call 987-8834.

(This article was contributed to by the 917th Wing Public Affairs and the 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs)