It’s March 2023 and it’s Women’s History Month. Let’s admit how difficult men have made life for women in America.
1776: Our constitution declares all men “are created equal”. And that literally means men. Women have zero say in writing, drafting, crafting, or ratifying the Constitution or any rights thereafter.
1848: The Married Women’s Property Act has finally passed, giving women the right to own property. But, only white women could own property at this point.
1920: Beating women is finally made illegal 144 years after the country is founded.
1921: Women finally get the right to vote. But not all women, only white women. Asian women had to wait until 1952. Native women had to wait until 1962. Black women had to wait until 1965. Latino women had to wait until 1975 to get equal rights to vote.
1970: No-fault divorce finally becomes law, allowing women to divorce without having to give a reason why.
1974: The Equal Credit Opportunity Act is finally passed into law, allowing women to get credit without the approval of their husbands or fathers.
1981: The first woman is finally appointed to the Supreme Court. 205 years after this country is founded.
1993: Marital rape is finally criminalized.
2022: Roe v. Wade was repealed, setting back reproductive rights 50 years.
2023: The Equal Rights Amendment is still not law.
And while women have always been more than 50% of the US. Population:
- 100% of U.S. Presidents have been men.
- 98% of Vice Presidents have been men.
- 96% of Supreme Court justices have been men.
- 92% of the U.S. Senate have been men.
- 90% of the House of Representatives have been men.
- Almost 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs have been men.
And still, women persist.
Men, we must do better every month to ensure meaningful justice and equity for all women in this country.