Women's Equality Day

Every year, on August 26, the United States commemorates the day on which women's right to vote became part of the constitution. This day, Women's Equality Day, may seem like a celebration of an important event in history. It is that of course, but it is also more — though we women may take our right to vote for granted today, the struggle for women's equality is far from over.

Nowhere is that clearer than in the health sector. Most essential and pressing healthcare issues are related to women.

One website believes that men should do the dishes and women the DIY on Women's Equality Day. As a feminist, the very thought makes me cringe. Instead, let's remember how hard our forebears fought to gain the rights we take for granted today, and let's press on with the fight. Because Women's Equality Day is about equality, and about equal rights.

Women's Rights Achievements Since 1920

In 1920, the 19^th amendment to the US constitution was ratified, giving women that right to vote. The same year, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was introduced to Congress. It states:

In 1940, 25 percent of women had jobs outside of the home — a figure that rose to 43 percent by 1969. With the rise in women's employment came the rise in the employment of married women; 15 percent of married women worked out of the home in 1940, while 30 percent of married women was employed by 1960.

The birth control pill was first approved for use in 1960 as well. It revolutionized women's lives — for the first time in history, a safe and reliable form of pregnancy prevention gave women control over their own bodies and reproduction. 

The introduction of the Equal Pay Act in 1961 certainly helped working women in the fight for equal treatment, though it wasn't passed by Congress until exactly a decade later. 1971 was also the year in which gender discrimination was banned in public schools.

Then, in 1973, we had Roe vs Wade — that all important ruling that gave women the right to abortion. This ruling still protects a woman's rights to terminate a pregnancy today.

Many important achievements were made, in short. But the fight isn't over. And not everybody has the same definition of “equal rights”.

Women: Equal But Not The Same

That short overview of women's rights achievements in the 20^th Century tells quite a big story. The very idea that women should not have the right to vote, or the right to work outside of the home, or the right to serve in the military, seems ridiculous to most people today.

But that notion does pose some challenges, because “equal” does not mean “the same” and men and women have different needs. This is a tough idea that modern feminists seem to reject all too often — but the fact that it's hard to comprehend doesn't mean we should ignore it altogether.

I believe the pendulum has swung too far in that other direction. Why? Because true feminism is about choice. About women being the master of their own destiny, and not about women doing the exact same things men do — they can, but they shouldn't be obliged to. Biology plays a role, and denying that would be short-sighted. 

One unfortunate side effect of women's rights advancements is that women are now actually expected to work outside of the home while leaving their children in the care of others. Though there is no denying that the glass ceiling is real, there may be even more of a problem with a woman's wish to stay at home, at least part-time, to raise her own children.

Abortion is as controversial as ever, but a woman's right to obtain a pregnancy termination until viability is certainly secured, and as of this year even girls aged 15 and 16 can get the morning-after pill without prescription. A woman's right to prevent pregnancy is safe, in other words. But do we look after our mothers — the women who do choose to have children — with the same care?

When you take a look at a mother's right to maternity leave, it looks like there is more work to be done. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 gives mothers a right to a maximum of 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave. Compare that to the UK, where women have the right to 52 weeks statutory maternity leave, with statutory maternity pay coming a new mother's way up to 39 weeks. In Canada, parents have are entitled to up to 37 weeks' parental leave.

Maternity care itself is an issue as well. It seems like society is still scared of women's bodies, and women's biology.

Sure, that OBGYN may be a woman — but does that make any difference? Women's bodies are nothing to be scared of, and I believe it's time to accept that pregnancy and birth are not illnesses but normal life events in which mothers can indeed play a very proactive role. Even if that means accepting that primal process just the way it is, and saying no to an epidural.

The medical community should also pay attention to reproductive coercion, an issue that predominantly affects women. Abusive husbands and boyfriends are most dangerous to their partner when she is pregnant, and abusive men often use a woman's biology against her. These nasty pieces of work have a tendency to trap women in abusive relationships by forcing them to get pregnant, but abusive partners can also coerce women into unwanted abortions. 

Women's Equality Day is a good day to remind medical professionals to keep an eye out for women patients who might be in abusive relationships, facing reproductive coercion. The ultimate answer for these women is to get out of these relationships. In the meantime, they deserve access to birth control and help getting concealed contraceptives as well as proper counseling prior to an abortion (without the presence of a partner), and every pregnant woman should be screened for domestic violence.