Holidays people celebrate Part 10 - 'Women's equality day' in America - Information for kids

If you are a girl, you have maybe heard things like 'You cannot do it, you are a girl' before.  How did this make you feel?  Why were you not happy about it?

A long time ago women were not seen as being equal as men.  They were not allowed to go into certain places, wear  certain clothes, do certain jobs and also were not able to vote.

Luckily this changed and in 1920 they could start voting.  They were seen as equal to men.

This day is meant to commemorate the day when the 19th amendment was passed in 1920 giving women the right to vote. It also is a day to look back on all women's rights issues and progress.  

This is an American holiday but in many countries women are celebrated and their freedom.

• Do research and find out if your country celebrate women's day
• If you are from South Africa you can read more here.

This fight to have the right to vote is called 'suffrage'.  This goes back a long time and women like Susan B Anthony fought for this right and that women will be equal to men.

In 1971, Congresswoman Bell Abzug introduced legislation to Congress for an official Women's Equality Day. It soon passed and the day became an official holiday.  

Various organizations celebrate this day with special functions for women and educating others about this day.

• Watch the following video and answer the questions

1. What did women demand?
2. Why is this time called 'the women era'?
3. How did women contribute to the American economy?
4. What new opportunities were created for women once they were seen equal to men?
5. Name a few women that fought for women equality and also say what happened to them.
6. Watch the video again and make your own summary on it.