“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” 19th Amendment Ratified August 18, 1920.
It is hard to believe that prior to 1920 most women in the United States were not allowed to vote. It has been a mere 95 years since this Amendment was ratified and became a part of the US Constitution. It would not be until 42 years later on July 2, 1964 that congress would pass the Title VII (Civil Rights Act of 1964) which makes it illegal to discriminate against women in the employment area. Part of Title VII makes it illegal for a women or man to be sexually harassed in the workplace.
It has been a long road for gender equality in the workplace. Still today in El Paso, Texas employment lawyers file lawsuits for discrimination based on Sex. While we have come a long way, we have yet to reach true equality. Both men and women have the right not be discriminated against in employment based on gender thanks to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, it was the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote that would ultimately lead to the U.S. Congress to pass Title VII (Civil Rights Act of 1964) which finally gave women the right not be discriminated against in employment. Had women not been able to elect congressmen and congresswomen it is doubtful that Title VII would have ever been passed. It is easy for us to forget it was not until the 1920’s that women gained the right to vote. I think both men and women can agree that the 19th Amendment has made the Country a better place for both women and men! Happy birthday 19th Amendment to the US Constitution.