We Are Not Going Back: The present day fight for women’s equality
Article By: Genevieve Leung / Graphic By: Naya Moukabary
Since the 19th Century women’s equality has been debated, protested, and fought over. The idea of women being equal to men has sparked controversy all over the world. For over 150 years women have put numerous efforts into making societies across the world equal.
Although the fight for women's rights and equality has lasted over a century, it still started as any normal conversation a woman would have; but this conversation turned into one of the biggest movements in US history. All the way back in the 19th century, in 1848, a group of women in New York were sitting down and enjoying tea. Then the conversation turned political and Elizabeth Cady Stanton brought up the topic of inequality in America, especially women's right to vote. She thought it was absurd that after America had been fighting so long to be a complete democracy women still didn't have full control of what they can do in their lives.
This conversation sparked interest among Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s other friends to educate more women on the topic. Cady Stanton organized one of the first women's rights conventions in America's history; she advertised it as a convention “that discussed the social, civil, and religious condition of women’s rights.” Within this convention she and multiple other women drafted the “Declaration of Sentiments.” In the article, Stanton addressed how men and women were created equal by one Creator and should share liberty, life, and justice. Unfortunately, the ridicule from the press started to invade some of the women's minds with misleading information that led them to remove their signatures. Despite the fact that they lost signatures, this movement carried on for another 72 years until in 1920, when a bill had been passed that women could finally vote.
Because of this, the women’s rights movement skyrocketed over the past 177 years. They have gained support from women all over America. Since 1920 American women have earned an incredible amount of rights, including: The 19th amendment which was ratified in 1920 and gave women the right to vote; then there was The Civil Rights Act in 1964 which made it illegal for people to discriminate against sex in the workplace; and finally in 1965 the Civil Rights Act for all races was instated. Additionally, in 1963 the Equal Pay Act was instituted making it illegal for employers to pay women less; unfortunately in 2025 only 1% of America's companies pay men and women equally. But the landmark of the present day movement was Roe v. Wade held constitutional grounds for the right to an abortion, and thus greater control over their reproductive health.
Despite the fact that American women have been fighting for almost two centuries to end the inequality between men and women, there is still so much that we are still fighting for. For example, in 2025 there have been four different protests for women's equality that targeted different topics, including: the “Hands off” which protested for the government to keep their “hands off” women’s reproductive rights, and in March the International Women's Day marches across the world marched and protested for equality amongst all genders. These protests help reach audiences to educate them on this crisis. Although we have come so far from where women stood more than a hundred years ago, we still have limited rights, access, and equality.
America isn’t the only country where women are experiencing a difficult fight for their equality. In 2021, the Taliban again took control in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of UN and NATO forces who primarily enforced more equality between men and women. Now, Afghani women under Taliban rule have lost numerous liberties. For instance, women have lost the right to speak; the right to get an education; and even to walk in public without a male escort. In comparison, at least American women still have freedom of speech and the right to an education, while Afghani women can’t even speak up for their rights.
Other countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger are facing serious complications regarding the women’s inequality. In Congo, 38% of women have been victims of rape, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. But that percentage is only from the reported cases; in Congo, the rate of non-reported cases is estimated to be at least 75% of victims’ cases not being brought to justice. These alarming numbers reveal a crisis of violence within our world that continues to highlight the robbery of justice that could have been brought to these women and girls.
In Niger they face a similar crisis with 76% of girls under the age of eighteen being forced into a marriage. Like Afghanistan and DRC, Niger imposes strict laws against women owning property, being educated, and has numerous accounts of sexual violence. In these countries the child birthrate has increased significantly, especially with girls under eighteen whom have experienced incest, forced marriage, or sexual abuse.
Over 175 countries in the world deal with inequality between genders. Women across the globe live in harsh conditions where inequality is proven to be a customary part of society. To this day, women all over the world continue to fight for their freedom. Women should not have to fight these barriers alone. Men of every nation should add their voices to this ongoing crisis, and especially speak up for the women in other countries who can’t speak up for themselves. This is why in 2025 women fight for their rights because we can not go back.
Sources: https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/history-of-the-womens-rights-movement/
https://www.concern.net/news/worst-countries-for-womens-rights
https://www.womenpeacesecurity.org/region/africa/central-africa/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/
