August 26th is National Women’s Equality Day—a day commemorating the heroic fight for women’s voting rights in the United States. While the roots of this national observance stem from the 19th Amendment and the tireless work of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, today, it serves as an important opportunity to reflect on past and present issues in gender equality.
As we celebrate Women’s Equality Day this year, we want to spotlight the ongoing fight for equal rights and highlight three extraordinary female leaders from WellRight who persevere and inspire future generations of women.
But first...
Women’s Equality Day was initially established to celebrate the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted white women the right to vote on August 26th, 1920. And while this concession was undoubtedly a leap forward for the Women’s Suffrage Movement, it did not mean the fight for civil rights was over.
In fact, over a century later, the fight for gender equality is still taking place.
Going back to the 1970s, Women’s Equality Day saw a shift from a celebration of voting rights toward a celebration of the women’s liberation movement and a time for organizing and protesting. But to fully understand how Women’s Equality Day became the observance it is today, it’s crucial to understand the complicated history of women’s rights in America.
Looking at this abridged timeline, it might seem as though women won the fight for equality—but as we mentioned, the battle is far from over.
While many of these laws had honest intentions and there has been steady progress in gender equity, the results have been mixed at best. Here are just a few of the issues women currently still face in the workplace:
The Gender Pay Gap
Despite passing the Equal Pay Act about 60 years ago, female workers still make less than men do on average.
According to Pew Research, there was significant progress between the 1980s and the 2000s as women’s wages went from 65 cents for every dollar a man made doing the same work to 80 cents per dollar. However, in the last 20 years, this wage gap has only closed by 2 cents.
Today, the average woman makes 18% less than her male counterparts performing the same exact job.
The Glass Ceiling
In addition to the gender pay gap, American women must also contend with the “glass ceiling,” or the patriarchal barrier preventing women from being considered for or promoted to leadership positions.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) currently ranks the U.S. 19th out of 29 of the most developed nations on its Glass Ceiling Index, which looks at gender equality in the workplace.
Disproportionate Burnout
Even when women earn their way to leadership positions, they don’t always get the recognition they deserve.
According to a recent McKinsey survey, this is part of the reason nearly 43% of women leaders experience burnout at work, compared to just over 30% of men. At the same time, the report found that women of color face additional layers of discrimination through microaggressions and other barriers to advancement.
Related Reading: How Burnout Affects Women
As we’ve seen, progress toward gender equality has never been easy. Even when organizations do what they can to empower and uplift their female leaders and employees, it isn’t always enough to overcome all the social barriers and discrimination women face.
Yet, in the face of these challenges, remarkable women continue to defy the odds, inspire others, and lead the way toward a better future.
To get a better picture of how women have persevered and broken down barriers, we spoke to three of WellRight’s esteemed C-suite executives to learn what Women’s Equality Day means to them and their journey as leaders.
At WellRight, we recognize that true workplace progress relies on the wellbeing of each and every employee—and gender equality is an essential part of that.
Without fair treatment for all in the workplace, it’s impossible for female employees to thrive. Holistic wellness programs leverage a multifaceted approach to empower and uplift each individual, promoting a healthy culture and overall work environment.
Reach out to us today to discover how a holistic wellness program can promote gender equality in your organization.
