Celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women world wide, International Women’s Day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

It hasn’t been all that long since women white women have gained basic rights. I feel that these rights are taken for granted.
As a mother, it is my DUTY to teach my children that there are still women who don’t have the privilege of enjoying their level of rights in hopes that they continue to fight until everyone has equal rights.

Women Recently in the USA…

• Could not buy birth control – 1960
• Did not have the right to have equal access to job listings – 1968
• Gained the the right to be paid the same as men for the same work. Maybe have the right, but there is still a gap -1970
• Were legally able to get abortions – 1973
• Could get a credit card in their own name – 1974
• Were able to divorce their husbands for “irreconcilable differences” – 1985
• Could finally seek damages for sexual harassment in the workplace – 1986
• Could access the morning after pill – 1998
• Could file a complaint on pay discrimination – 2008
• Could fight on the front lines – 2013
• Could finally marry another woman – 2015 {2005 in Canada!!}

Most of my references are American due to the fact that I lived in the United States for close to twenty years. I moved in Grade 8 and graduated High School in North Carolina — therefore I am well versed in American history. Unfortunately, my Canadian history is spotty.

These few selected milestones only happened in the last 60 years.
I know we can, and WILL do better for future generations.