March is Women’s History Month, and it is important for people to gain an understanding of why we celebrate this. For centuries, women have been fighting for equal rights and respect across the world. The 20th century and early 21st century have seen some major victories for women, but there is still work that needs to be done. Let’s take a look at what gender equity entails and what we should look forward to in the coming years.
What is Gender Equity?
Many people confuse equity with equality. This is understandable, as they are similar in nature and the end goal of equality requires equity to get there, but there are some key differences. Equality means that everyone is treated the same even though they are different — in the case of gender equality this means that women would be given the same treatment as men.
Equity, on the other hand, refers to fair treatment based on the different needs of men and women. Equity is required to get to the point where men and women are viewed as equal. Essentially, women need to be given the rights, benefits, and opportunities that men have received throughout history.
Advancements in Gender Equity
The last 100 years have seen some of the most rapid changes in the female empowerment movement. In 1919, women in the United States gained the right to vote thanks to a strong suffrage movement spearheaded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Many developed nations followed suit in the coming years.
1955 saw the civil rights movement gain serious momentum after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat at the front of the bus — a key moment in not only race equality but also gender equity.
In 1963, President Kennedy passed the Equal Pay Act, and President Johnson followed in 1964 with the Civil Rights Act, making it illegal for employers to discriminate based on religion, ethnicity, or sex.
The following decades saw major advancements for women across the board, with milestones being set at a record pace. Prominent women figures have made headlines across a broad spectrum of industries, helping put women in a better position than they had been throughout most of the history of the world.
Shortcomings in the Women’s Equity Movement
Despite the fact that women are in a better place today than any time in history, there are still many changes that need to be made. There are still negative preconceptions about women’s abilities because of centuries of patriarchal rule. This causes unfair treatment in the workplace, despite laws that dictate that it shouldn’t happen.
While developed countries are closer to equality today, many third world countries still have a horrible record for civil rights. Younger generations must embrace gender equity and teach their children the importance of treating everybody equally, no matter what their gender or where they come from.
Published on Medium, https://bit.ly/30uhg5O