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Winning the right to vote was a giant step forward for U.S. women’s rights.
However, it was only one step. There was—and still is—more work to be done.
Even in the 1970s, educational openings for women were not equal. Women could go to high school and college. But they were expected to take classes that got them ready for marriage and babies. Or they were pushed into “female” professions, such as nursing. In the 1970s, Congress passed various acts. These laws made sure that women would have the same educational chances as men. One result was that girls could take shop classes, and boys could take cooking classes. ▶
◀ Laws say male and female workers should be treated equally. Yet working women are still not treated fairly. Here are two examples: Census data from 2010 showed that half the workforce was women. But only 25 percent of them held high-level jobs. Also, for every dollar earned by men, women earned about 75 cents.
Women make up half of the voting population. But not many women have been elected to high public office. In 1924, Wyoming elected the first female governor. Since then, 36 women have served as governor in 27 states. In 2015, only five states had female governors. In the 114th Congress (2015–2016), only 20 of 100 senators were women. And only 84 of 435 members of the House of Representatives were female.
◀ In 2008, Hillary Clinton ran against Barack Obama to be the presidential candidate for the Democratic party. She lost. But she became secretary of state. She is one of only three women to have done that job. Then, in 2016, Clinton became the first woman to run in a presidential election.
Democrat Kamala Harris is not the first woman chosen to run for the office of vice president of the United States. But in 2020, she was the first to be elected. Republican Sarah Palin ran for the office in 2008. Democrat Geraldine Ferraro ran for the office in 1984. Other women have been nominated for vice president. Other women have won electoral votes. But they were not widely supported. Vice President Harris is also the first African American to hold that position. She is the first Asian American, too. Vice President Harris is also among five other women of color ever to have been elected to the U.S. Senate. In addition, she is the first woman to have been attorney general of California. And the first African American. ▶
Think Piece!
The 26th Amendment to the Constitution, passed in 1971, gave voting rights to 18-year-olds. What do you think the voting age should be?
In 1923, some suffragists proposed another amendment to the Constitution. It was known as the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). It would guarantee both sexes equal treatment under the law. Congress finally passed the amendment in 1972. But it didn’t get the approval it needed from three-fourths of the states. ▼
Women Around the World
Think Piece!
In 46 states, people convicted of serious crimes can’t vote while in prison. In ten states, these people can’t vote even after they get out of prison. Do you think this is fair?
The world is changing. In the last 100 years, 78 women have become presidents or prime ministers of their countries. Some of them were elected. Others were appointed. Indira Gandhi of India, Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, Angela Merkel of Germany, and Golda Meir of Israel are among the best known. ▼
▲ Indira Gandhi
▲ Margaret Thatcher
▲ Angela Merkel
▲ Golda Meir
Aung San Suu Kyi fought for democratic elections in Myanmar (Burma). In 1990, her party won 80 percent of the vote. She was expected to become prime minister. But the military government wouldn’t give up its power. Suu Kyi spent almost 15 of the 21 years between 1989 and 2010 under house arrest. That means she was not allowed to leave her home. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. Suu Kyi was elected to parliament in 2012. She’s also the chairperson of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy party.
