• commentary
  • SUNDAY AUGUST 26 2007 4:00 PM

Happy Women's Equality Day

Submitted by Bitch_PhD

Edited by Bitch_PhD

Tags: women's rights, voting, history



Today, my fellow citizens, is Women's Equality Day--the 87th anniversary of the day the 19th Amendment was passed.

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights: and

WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women’s rights took place.


If you're a woman, register to vote. If you're registered to vote, fucking do so. The country--and the world--would be different if you did:

single women just don't exercise their electoral power. In the 2000 presidential election, 68 percent of married women went to the voting booth but only 52 percent of single women cast a vote.

That means that 6 million single women failed to vote in an election that hinged on a little more than half a million votes nationally and a few hundred votes in Florida.

The survey showed that single women could have altered the outcome of the 2000 election. Had single women—who favored former Vice President Al Gore by 31 points—voted at the same rate as married women in Florida and other swing states, Gore now would be sitting in the Oval Office.


There are all sorts of reasons single women don't vote, of course. But I think the last eight years has showed us that we can't afford to sit on our butts waiting for the perfect candidate to come along. Whether it's holding up Plan B for months--the anniversary of making it available OTC was Friday, by the way--or cutting funding for women's health or attacking abortion rights or holding children's health insurance hostage, it's pretty damn clear that the right hates women--and I don't give a shit if they do it actively or passively.

Get out there and register. Make sure your girlfriends are registered. And for fuck's sake, when election days come up, get your butt to the polls and vote.

Bitch_PhD isn't kidding.

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Comments
CherryCoke

CherryCoke

Derry, NH
May 2007

AUG 26, 2007 04:07 PM

I've voted every chance I've had since I turned 18.

Saraphine

Saraphine

SUICIDEGIRL

Pennsylvania, USA

AUG 26, 2007 04:11 PM

I love to vote, but am dismayed by how many people do not.

Allegro

Allegro

Yonkers, NY
February 2007

AUG 26, 2007 04:13 PM

I always vote. It sucks that I live in NYC where it doesn't matter so much.

xazapdmytinu

xazapdmytinu

Fort Collins, CO
July 2007

AUG 26, 2007 04:15 PM

it's pretty clear that the right hates everything. whatever

Women are a special case though because...well there's just so damn many of your little bastards running around... wink kiss

it's surprising the amount of energy expended on keeping women from taking advantage of the rights they are meant to have...more active women in politics and government would go such a long way...for a supposedly equal state there's clearly not much representation among the lawmakers. We could all do with a little more interest in our government.

Heathen_Dave

Heathen_Dave

Birmingham, AL
July 2005

AUG 26, 2007 04:22 PM

xazapdmytinu said:
for a supposedly equal state there's clearly not much representation among the lawmakers.



Well, there's legal equality, not cultural equality. Huge difference.

We could all do with a little more interest in our government.



Good god yes.

Admiral_Pants

Admiral_Pants

Austin, TX
May 2004

AUG 26, 2007 04:27 PM

If I don't vote, that makes each woman's vote worth slightly more, right?

Just doing my part, ladies.

BDeyeD

BDeyeD

Toronto, ON
January 2007

AUG 26, 2007 04:41 PM

Last election I voted and harrassed every single one of my friends to ensure that they had, as well. It may have suited me better to only pressure the ones to vote that I knew were voting the same way I was, but I'm so darned caught up on women's right to choose that I just couldn't go down that path. Damn me and my values wink

scotts0

scotts0

White Plains, NY
November 2006

AUG 26, 2007 05:24 PM

Admiral_Pants said:
If I don't vote, that makes each woman's vote worth slightly more, right?

Just doing my part, ladies.



+1

Gringo

Gringo

Spokane, WA
May 2006

AUG 26, 2007 05:35 PM

The survey showed that single women could have altered the outcome of the 2000 election. Had single women_who favored former Vice President Al Gore by 31 points_voted at the same rate as married women in Florida and other swing states, Gore now would be sitting in the Oval Office.


That's not how our system works. The electoral vote decides our president - not the popular vote.

There should be more focus on local representation and the house and senate. People know more about the president than those in congress who actually choose him or her.

freshprncebelair

freshprncebelair

Ellicott City, MD
June 2004

AUG 26, 2007 05:41 PM



And for fuck's sake, when election days come up, get your butt to the polls and vote.



Or convince someone with different politics not to vote

Gringo

Gringo

Spokane, WA
May 2006

AUG 26, 2007 05:46 PM

freshprncebelair said:


And for fuck's sake, when election days come up, get your butt to the polls and vote.


Or convince someone with different politics not to vote


Or kill them so they cannot vote.

ardour

ardour

Ottawa, ON
March 2006

AUG 26, 2007 05:53 PM

Even if there's no one you want to vote for, go in and spoil your ballet or vote for some crazy minor party. Why? Because then you're being recorded as voting. If every single woman voted, then the people running things would notice that and try to cater to them. Because groups like youth don't vote, the people running for office put what those groups want as a secondary priority. It's just common sense for them.

KushielsScion

KushielsScion

Gardendale, AL
May 2004

AUG 26, 2007 06:06 PM

When women are forced to register with Selective Service I'll start celebrating their equality.

Ciroc

Ciroc

Santa Barbara, CA
December 2003

AUG 26, 2007 06:24 PM

freshprncebelair said:


And for fuck's sake, when election days come up, get your butt to the polls and vote.



Or convince someone with different politics not to vote



That's what I do.

Volkov

Volkov

San Antonio, TX
OLD SKOOL

AUG 26, 2007 06:41 PM

rampage121584 said:
When women are forced to register with Selective Service I'll start celebrating their equality.




that's moronic on so many levels.

registering for Selective Service is a whole hell of a lot more meaningless than pay disparity and double standards in just about everything.

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