August 18, 1920: Honoring the Women Who Won the Vote—And the Women Who Inspire Us Today

Today in History: August 18, 1920

On this day, the United States took a historic step forward in justice and equality. With Tennessee’s ratification, the 19th Amendment became law, guaranteeing American women the right to vote.

This victory was not handed down easily. It was won through decades of tireless struggle—through marches, speeches, hunger strikes, and the unyielding determination of women who refused to be invisible in a democracy that claimed to represent “the people.”

The amendment gave voice to millions of women, empowering them to take their rightful place in shaping the future of the nation. It was more than a political triumph—it was a declaration that women’s voices matter, that their wisdom belongs at the ballot box, in policy, and in every corner of civic life.

Today, as we honor the suffragists who blazed the trail, we are reminded that democracy is strongest when all citizens are heard. Their courage calls us to continue building a nation where equality is not only written in amendments, but lived in reality.

But I don’t just want to honor the suffragists—I want to celebrate the women in my own life. The women who raised me, taught me, challenged me, supported me, and inspired me. The women who show resilience in the face of adversity, brilliance in their work, compassion in their friendships, and power in their voices.

The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, but every day since then, women have proven that their influence reaches far beyond the ballot box. They shape families, communities, culture, and history itself.

So today, I say thank you—to the suffragists who fought for equality, and to the women I am lucky enough to know and love. Your strength, courage, and determination remind me every day that when women rise, the world rises with them.