Thus begins the tribute Charles Yates has written to his friend Ketriana Yvonne on WomensActivism.NYC, a moving dedication that captures Ketriana’s energy and creativity—from her challenge for him to write a poem each day of National Poetry Month to her own artistic work. Ketriana’s story is part of an initiative to write women into history by sharing stories of everyday, extraordinary women launched by the NYC Department of Records & Information Services (DORIS) on Women’s Equality Day on August 26, 2015.
WomensActivism.NYC is a public, searchable site showcasing brief descriptions of inspiring women from around the world. Entries include women—both well-known and not—with roles as diverse as sisters, great-grandmothers, celebrities, next-door neighbors, elected officials, teachers, professional athletes, artists, and more. Diverse representation is important, and the only requirements are: 1) they must be woman-identified, and 2) they must have contributed to making change in some way.
With more than 9,000 stories already archived, DORIS is currently soliciting 700 more stories to complete the project with 10,000 stories of inspiring and empowering women. This collection will be preserved and made available in perpetuity through the Municipal Archives, where the stories will be freely and readily accessible for all.
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“On May 2, 1963, nine-year old Audrey Faye Hendricks became the youngest known person arrested during the Civil Rights Movement. She was one of hundreds of children who took part in marches against segregation in the city of Birmingham, Alabama.”
–Preston F. on Audrey Hendricks
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Women’s Equality Day
Born Bella Savitsky on July 24, 1920, in New York City, Bella Abzug was a leading liberal activist and politician in the 1960s and 1970s who became especially well-known for her work for women’s rights. To promote women’s issues and to lobby for reform, she helped establish the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC) with Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, and Gloria Steinem. To have an even greater impact on the political process, she served in the House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977.
At the behest of Representative Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971, the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day in 1973. This date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution—a key piece of legislation granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York.
The annual observance of Women’s Equality Day on August 26 not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality in our society. Many workplaces, libraries, organizations and public institutions now participate in Women’s Equality Day with programs, displays, or other activities, all with the intention of bringing awareness and attention to the important matter of gender equity. For 2023, the theme of Women’s Equality Day is “Embrace Equity,” a global recognition of the ongoing struggle for equal rights and opportunities for women of all backgrounds.
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“On May 28, 1969, NY City Mayor John V. Lindsay appointed Dr. Mary McLaughlin as Commissioner of the Department of Health. She was the second woman to hold the post. Under McLaughlin’s leadership, the Health Department launched initiatives that addressed narcotics addiction, mental health, and lead poisoning.”
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Women’s Equality Week