Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 84

Introduced by Senator Jackson

(Coauthor: Assembly Member Cristina Garcia)

August 17, 2015

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 84—Relative to Women’s Equality Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 84, as introduced, Jackson. Women’s Equality Day.

This measure would recognize August 26, 2015, as Women’s Equality Day and its historic importance to women’s rights, including the battle to attain those rights in the past, present, and future.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The first women’s rights convention on July 19,
1848, was called by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott to
win equal rights for and expand the role of women in society, and
it was then that the fight for women’s rights came together as an
organized effort; and

WHEREAS, In 1851, abolitionist and women’s rights activist
Sojourner Truth delivered her renowned extemporaneous speech
“Ain’t I a Woman?” at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in
Akron; and

WHEREAS, The addition of the Nineteenth Amendment to the
United States Constitution on August 26, 1920, secured for women
the right to vote; and

WHEREAS, The passage of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964
barred employment discrimination against women; and

WHEREAS, The enactment of Title IX of the federal Education
Amendments of 1972 guaranteed equal opportunity for women in
all aspects of education; and

WHEREAS, Many women have planned, organized, lectured,
written, marched, lobbied, canvassed voters, staged parades,
become candidates for political office, argued court cases, and
more, in order to irrevocably change for the better the world of
today’s women and girls; and

WHEREAS, Despite the many efforts of policymakers and
advocates, both women and men, toward ensuring equality for
women, gender inequality persists in many areas, as evidenced by
the ongoing struggle for fair pay and equal job opportunities, job
training opportunities, access to child care, family friendly
workplaces, and against poverty, especially among women and
children; and

WHEREAS, Despite important steps to achieve equal access in
the workplace and to educational opportunities, women face
barriers in education and employment that are not experienced at
the same magnitude by men, including, the presence of historical
male privilege and gender bias; sex discrimination, harassment,
and sexual violence in the workplace and on campus; the
complications of having caregiving duties in the unpaid economy;
and being undervalued for their work in the paid economy; and

WHEREAS, Women are critical to a strong and vibrant
California economy and play a pivotal role in spurring economic
growth in California; and

WHEREAS, Women comprise almost one-half of the workforce
in our state and are primary income earners in many households;
and

WHEREAS, The lack of affordable, quality child care and
affordable housing makes it hard for women to provide safe and
secure environments for their families; and

WHEREAS, Women’s earnings are still far too low compared
to men’s in California, and women are disproportionately employed
in jobs that pay the minimum wage; and

WHEREAS, Women are also disproportionately disadvantaged
by the stresses of poverty and the constraints of the social services
system; and

WHEREAS, Ensuring the economic security of all California
women and their families will benefit all communities, including
men, children, and families who count on public policies to meet
their basic needs, earn a decent living, and care for their families;
and

WHEREAS, The women of the United States have designated
August 26 as a symbol of the continued fight for equal rights; and

WHEREAS, The United States Congress recognizes that August
26 of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day and the
President of the United States annually issues a proclamation
commemorating August 26, 1920, as the day when the women of
the United States were first given the right to vote and recognizes
that same date in 1970 when a nationwide demonstration for
women’s rights took place; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That upon the anniversary of the Nineteenth
Amendment to the United States Constitution, the Legislature
recognizes August 26, 2015, as Women’s Equality Day and its
historic importance to women’s rights, including the battle to attain
those rights in the past, present, and future; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.