Women’s Equality Day

Women’s Equality Day is celebrated on August 26 each year, marking the anniversary of the 1920 certification of the Nineteenth Amendment and honoring both the suffrage movement and the ongoing work toward equal rights in the United States.

History of Women’s Equality Day

On August 26, 1920, U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the proclamation that made the Nineteenth Amendment part of the Constitution, prohibiting the denial of the right to vote based on sex and opening the door for millions of women to participate formally in American elections. That moment is the historical anchor for the observance and the reason the date lands on August 26.

Decades later, Congress—spurred by efforts led by Representative Bella Abzug—formally designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day in 1973, and U.S. presidents have issued annual proclamations ever since to mark the occasion. Today the day is widely used to celebrate suffrage history and to highlight the unfinished work of achieving full equality in civic, economic, and cultural life. ¹

Why is Women’s Equality Day important?

It’s an annual pause to remember that voting rights were not simply granted; they were won through organizing, persuasion, and persistence, and even then not equitably extended to all women at once. Looking back helps us see the gap between the promise of equal citizenship and people’s lived experiences, and that clarity can make present-day efforts more honest and effective.

It also reframes equality as everyday practice rather than a once-and-done milestone. From representation in local boards to pay equity and safe, fair workplaces, the spirit of August 26 asks us to bring big ideals down to daily choices: who we listen to, how we vote, what we support, and how we make room for others to lead.

• It turns a historic win into a modern to-do list.
• It invites intergenerational conversations about progress and gaps.
• It reminds us rights expand when ordinary people participate.
• It nudges us to pair pride with responsibility.
• It centers inclusion, not just celebration.

How to Celebrate Women’s Equality Day

Keep it simple and practical. Read a short article about the Nineteenth Amendment, then share one takeaway with a friend or family member who hasn’t heard the story lately. Check your voter registration, help someone else check theirs, and plan for your next local election—small, concrete actions that keep the promise of the day alive.

At work or in your community, make space for voices that aren’t usually centered. Invite a woman to take the mic at a meeting, highlight a woman-owned business, donate to a nonpartisan voting-access group, or mentor someone just starting out. If you’re a parent or educator, read a children’s book about suffrage and talk about what fairness looks like at school.

• Verify your voter registration and help a neighbor do the same.
• Learn one new story from the suffrage movement and share it.
• Support a woman-led local business or creator today.
• Write to a representative about an equality issue you care about.
• Invite a woman to lead the update or keynote in your group.

Women’s Equality Day Dates Table

1. https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/resources/commemorations/womens-equality-day/[↩]