Women’s Equality Day (Aug. 26) is here, and this year especially, that means holding space for our truth. We’ve made a lot of progress, yes, but we’ve still got a long way to go. The following share-worthy women’s equality quotes from people throughout history are a true testament to that fact.
Further proof? Between celebrating all of the hard-earned victories women have won since the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920 — thereby giving us the right to vote — you may very well have to spend time on this important day in women’s history defending the very fact that there is a day dedicated to gender equality.
But every time you’re faced with an alarmingly backward perspective regarding women’s (unalienable) rights, remember this: we’re not done yet, but we are on our way. And we’re on our way thanks to women in our past like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Ida B. Wells, who refused to back down from the good fight before them.
Today, let’s honor all of the fierce feminists from our past and our present whose great strides remind us how far we’ve come.
A version of this article was originally published August 2017.
Ban Ki-moon
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Gender equality is an issue that affects and is for all people, not just women.
G.D. Anderson
The Women’s Marches held every January are a prime example of our strength.
Audre Lorde
When you feel you have nothing to offer in this fight, remember Lorde’s words: You have your voice.
Barack Obama
Preach, Obama. Can we get this cross-stitched on a pillow to put in the Oval Office?
Emma Watson
Why is this such a hard concept for so many to grasp? Everyone wins when equality prevails.
Gloria Steinem
A feminist for the history books, Steinem nails it with this simple yet oh-so-spot-on sentiment.
Geraldine Ferraro
In times as troubling as these, when people are trying to tear us apart, we must stand together.
Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells knew that doing the right thing isn’t necessarily easy, and she did it anyway.
Hillary Clinton
Clinton makes a salient point. To finish it, all genders must take up the cause.
Maya Angelou
Read Angelou’s words, and then go be the girl who grabs the world by the lapels.
Malala Yousafzai
All the praise hand emojis for Yousafzai! Women supporting women is where it’s at.
Madeline Albright
Albright isn’t afraid to use her voice to fight for women’s rights. Be like Albright.
Meryl Streep
This. So much this, y’all. Just because men say women are equal doesn’t make it so.
Sheryl Sandberg
Women have far too much to bring to the conversation to not even be asked to be a part of it.
Unknown
If you ever need a talking point when someone says gender inequality doesn’t exist, here you go.
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