Blog
Winston Celebrates the Achievements of Women Around the Globe
Blog
March 12, 2019
Winston’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) affinity group were pleased to present a Women’s History Month/International Women’s Day program on March 8 featuring award-winning writer Elaine Weiss. This enlightening program was live in Washington, D.C. and broadcast to all U.S. offices.
Director of Diversity & Inclusion Sylvia James welcomed the 500+ firm members, clients, and alumni in attendance, and D.C. WLI Partner Chair Neely Agin introduced Weiss and her book titled The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote.
June 4 of this year will mark the 100th anniversary of Congress’ passage of the 19th Amendment that doubled the size of the electorate and made women full U.S. citizens. Weiss’ book centers on a six-week period in 1920, which she likens to “suffrage Armageddon,” that culminated in Tennessee becoming the 36th and final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment.
The fierce, seven-decade-long battle was begun by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony in 1848 in Seneca Falls and waged by three generations of women, including Alice Paul who wrote the as-yet unratified Equal Rights Amendment and Carrie Catt who formed the League of Women Voters. “But before they could change the law,” Weiss said, “the suffragists first had to change hearts and minds.”
Weiss explained that the suffragists and their allies—including many who were men—had to be fearless in the face of a highly public campaign by their opponents—including many who were women—to characterize them as radical, unattractive, and bad mothers. Despite ridicule, and in some cases assault and incarceration, the suffragists persevered over 72 years using a savvy and ingenious “Organize, Educate, Agitate” strategy that still serves as a model for activists seeking to change laws that no longer reflect modern life.
“Protest is patriotic but must be back up by sustained strategy,” Weiss told program attendees. This #BalanceforBetter epitomized by the suffragist movement was also the theme of International Women’s Day 2019. Firm members around the globe wore purple in recognition of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. In addition to securing women’s right to vote in the U.S., this year marks the 150th anniversary of America’s first female lawyer, Arabella A. Mansfield, and the 100th anniversary of the removal of the Sex Disqualification Act of 1919, which paved the way for women to become lawyers in the U.K.
Click here for more photos from “Wear Purple Day.”
To celebrate this milestone, the women attorneys in Winston’s London office hosted a screening of the documentary RGB, which explores the life and legacy of U.S. Supreme Court Justice and pop culture icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her unique journey to rise to the highest court in the United States.
This Heritage Month program was part of Winston’s annual series that celebrates the diversity that exists at the firm and helps foster an inclusive work environment. Visit our Diversity & Inclusion page for more information.
This entry has been created for information and planning purposes. It is not intended to be, nor should it be substituted for, legal advice, which turns on specific facts.