(WFRV) – The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is recognizing Women’s Equality Day, marking 105 years since the 19th Amendment guaranteed women the right to vote.
Wisconsin played a historic role in the fight for voting rights, becoming the first state to ratify the amendment. On June 10, 1919, it became the first state in the nation to do so, just hours after Congress passed it and sent it to the states approval.
Wisconsin’s vote was so swift that state officials immediately sent their ratification papers by train to Washington D.C., arriving before any stat’s documents. That action secured Wisconsin’s reputation as a leader in the fight for women’s suffrage. But, DWD officials noted, the work toward full gender equality continues.
Pictured below: Theodora Youmans, President Wisconsin Women’s Suffrage Association – Circa 1915 – Image courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
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That means ensuring equal access to jobs, fair pay, representation in decision-making, and breaking down systemic barriers that still exist in 2025.
Through its Equal Rights Division, DWD investigates complaints of discrimination relative to sex, pregnancy, harassment, family leave, and pay. The department also works with employers to promote equal opportunity and supports apprenticeship programs that encourages the recruitment and advancement of women.
Wisconsin wins when women work in an environment that supports their success. When women succeed, communities prosper, families are lifted out of poverty, and talent stays in state.
– The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
DWD says it remains committed to carrying forward the fight for equality started by the suffragettes more than a century ago.
Nationally, Women’s Equality Day is observed on August 26 to honor the certification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. It’s a day to reflect on the continuing struggle for gender equality.
The Wisconsin Women’s Network (WWN) is hosting its annual Women’s Equality Day fundraiser and celebration in Madison.
