Instead of a Beauty Product of the Week today, I'm want to remind you all that March is Women's History Month and today is International Women's Day. While some may not consider me to be a "good feminist" because I like to wear makeup and I'm married to a man, I am serious about my place in the world as a woman. And with a growing war on my reproductive rights, it's a good time to remember just a few of the important struggles women have faced throughout history:- 1869: Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton form the National Women's Suffrage Association with the goal of getting a constitutional amendment to allow women the right to vote.
- 1916: Margaret Sanger opens the first US birth control clinic in Brooklyn, NY. The clinic is shut down within 10 days and Sanger is sent to jail.
- 1919: Women gain the right to vote.
- 1966: NOW (National Organization for Women) is formed, seeking to end discrimination in the workplace.
- 1973: The Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision guarantees women the right to an abortion.
- 1976: The first marital rape law is passed in Nebraska, making it illegal for a husband to force his wife to have sex.
- 1996: The Supreme Court rules that women must be allowed into traditionally all male military schools if such organizations want to continue to receive federal funding.
- 2006: Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female speaker of the house.
If you want to get educated about the women's movement, there are plenty of places to check out. Start with www.now.org or www.plannedparenthood.org.
I'll get back to the beauty news the next time I post. Until then, celebrate your femininity and your rights! They've been hard won and there are many who want to take them away.
