International Women’s Day

Today, is (or was, depending on where you are in the world) International Women’s Day. First observed back in 1909, it’s now described as a day of celebrating all that women have achieved and inspiring women to achieve their full potential.

Both of my grandmothers were born long before women had the vote. While neither Gagee nor Grandma were suffragettes, they were part of the collective “Women of America” who had been toiling in their traditional roles without a legal voice and limited social options. They each benefited from the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, but it would be the coming generations who would take it to the next level, and beyond.

Now, in 2007, so much has been achieved by so many women. Unfortunately there is much more to be done around the world. One example of this is illustrated by this year’s IWD theme: “Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls”.