Winning the Right to Vote: 'Women's Equality Day'

According to the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Committee, "Fairfax County is the site of possibly the most significant moment in the fight for women’s suffrage in the United States."

In 1917, more than 120 women were imprisoned in the Occoquan Workhouse portion of the Lorton Prison for picketing at the White House for the right to vote. 

The woman imprisoned at Lorton included suffragist leaders , , , , , and .

The conditions the women endured, including beatings and forced feedings, brought attention to the suffrage movement, and helped to pressure President Woodrow Wilson to recommend the passage of the Susan B. Anthony amendment.

The day of August 26, 1920, marked the culmination of a 72 year massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women.  The 19th amendment was ratified.  Finally, American women could participate in the national political process. 

In response to the urging of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day.

Before the 1970’s little attention was given to the topic of women’s history, and women were largely ignored in the records of history. 

Seeking to correct this, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women in 1978 initiated  “Women’s History Week.” They chose the week of March 8 for their celebration, to coincide with International Women’s Day. 

In 1981, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) cosponsored the first Joint Congressional Resolution proclaiming a national Women’s History Week. The National Women’s History Project lobbied Congress in 1987 to expand the celebration to one month. National Women’s History Month has been celebrated every year since.

According to the National Women's History Project, "The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality."