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Susybelle Gosslee: Celebrate the passage of the 19th Amendment

For 72 years, Congress struggled with the decision of women’s right to vote. In other words, women negotiated, argued, went to jail, suffered adversity and protested in the heat, rain and snow to get the right.

Before the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920, women could not vote, collect their own wages, retain custody of their children if divorced, serve on juries, speak at public gatherings or sign contracts without a male family member’s signature. Even as late as the 1950s, women could not rent an apartment or get a telephone without having a male family member sign their contracts. And it took even longer before women could get a bank account and credit, giving them more autonomy.

The 19th Amendment created equality by guaranteeing women the vote. Equality is the right that each and every human being has on the sole merit of being human; thus equality is the idea that all human beings have the same rights, regardless of gender, status and color. It must be remembered and celebrated every year as a milestone in history, because it empowered women with a voice and vote to determine the public realm. Women are partners with men in creating a more perfect union.

But that demands change. Real change happens when all citizens join together to elect officials who will craft a society that works for everyone. Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Catt and Alice Paul worked together on women’s suffrage, and the movement became a rallying cry for thousands and led to ratification of the 19th Amendment.

As a result, women have influenced elected officials by wielding the power of the ballot box, particularly in the areas of education and health care. And they have marshaled seismic progress by putting women into those legislative and judicial seats. Sadly, women still hold only 18 percent of the offices, despite being 50.8 percent of the population. However, this will change if states like Texas can lift the number of women running for office.

Voting creates the opportunity to make changes toward what our founders called “the common good.” That takes all kinds of people with different perspectives working together to find the best community solutions. And it demands that citizens get off their couches and become involved in the political process.

Mahatma Gandhi is attributed with saying, “Be the change you want the world to see.” This is a great place to start, but no one can stop there. So where does change take place? I have been in the very train station in South Africa where Gandhi first protested inequality. The station was not inspiring or different from any other place. The day was like any other for many people. Yet Gandhi alone decided to stand up for the good of all in a country that appeared to have no hope of change.

You, too, can be the change you want the world to see. You are invited to attend the Women’s Equality Day Celebration in the Flag Room of Dallas City Hall at noon Wednesday. Wear white to remember the early suffragists and others who made it possible for everyone to vote.

Susybelle Gosslee of Dallas is president of Women’s Issues Network. Her email address is sgosslee@airmail.net.

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