Dear Editor: March marks Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the progress and ongoing challenges of women’s rights in the United States. Over the past century, women’s rights have gradually taken shape, though another way to look at it is that it has only been in the past 100 years that these rights have begun to unfold.
In 1920, women were granted the right to vote – 106 years ago.
However, many women of color did not have meaningful access to voting until 1965, when the Voting Rights Act was passed – 61 years ago.
Title IX, established in 1972, prohibited sex discrimination in federally funded education programs, drastically expanding opportunities for women and girls in schools and sports – 54 years ago.
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 allowed women to open bank accounts, get loans, and obtain credit cards without a male co-signer, such as a husband – 52 years ago.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 made it illegal for employers to fire employees due to pregnancy – 48 years ago.
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), passed in 1994, created major federal protections for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault – 32 years ago.
Despite these important advances, women’s rights have faced significant setbacks in recent years: In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing individual states to restrict or ban abortion. Several states have passed restrictive voting laws, including strict voter ID requirements, reduced early voting, and limited mail-in ballots, disproportionately impacting women of color, young women, and women in rural areas. The gender pay gap persists, with women overall earning an average of 81 cents for every dollar earned by men. Women of color see disparaging rates of pay in comparison to white men. Latina women earn 51 cents, Black women earn 64 cents, and Alaska Native and American Indian women earn 52 cents to every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men.
While progress has been significant, ongoing challenges highlight the continued need to advocate for women’s rights. Women and LGBTQ+ individuals are disproportionately impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. For this reason, SAFV believes it is important to uplift these groups within our community. Several years ago, we established the Sitka Rose Awards, which evolved from our previous event, Honoring Women. During this event, we recognize women and queer individuals who contribute positively to our community through their everyday actions. While we have made meaningful progress, there is still much work to be done to create a community where all people have equal access to opportunities and safety.
Natalie Wojcik, Executive Director
Sitkans Against Family Violence
