In 1929, the United States of America was a vastly different place for women than it is today. Women had only recently been granted the right to vote in elections, and they had only just begun to gain some control over their property and earnings. While Margaret Sanger had fought tirelessly for a woman’s right to learn about birth control, there was still a long way to go in terms of reproductive rights and gender equality.

Fast forward to the present day, and the landscape for women in America has changed dramatically. Women now make up nearly half of the workforce, and they hold positions of power and influence in every sector of society. The #MeToo movement has brought issues of sexual harassment and assault to the forefront of public consciousness, and women are speaking out and demanding change.

Despite these gains, however, there is still much work to be done to ensure that women are truly equal in all areas of life. Women continue to face discrimination and bias in the workplace, and they are often paid less than their male counterparts for doing the same job. Reproductive rights are under attack in many states, and women’s healthcare is still not treated as a priority by many policymakers.

So what can be done to continue the progress that has been made and ensure that women have equal rights and opportunities in all areas of life? Here are a few key areas where action is needed:

1. Equal Pay

Despite the passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, women still earn less than men for doing the same job. On average, women earn just 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, and the gap is even wider for women of color. This wage gap not only hurts women financially, but it also perpetuates gender inequality and reinforces harmful stereotypes about women’s abilities and value in the workplace.

To address this issue, policymakers must take action to enforce existing equal pay laws and close loopholes that allow employers to pay women less. Companies must also be held accountable for their pay practices and required to report on their progress in closing the wage gap. And women must be empowered to negotiate for fair pay and to speak out when they experience discrimination.

2. Reproductive Rights

Access to reproductive healthcare is a fundamental human right, yet women’s reproductive rights are under attack in many states. Laws restricting access to abortion and birth control are being passed at an alarming rate, and women’s healthcare providers are facing increasing harassment and violence.

To protect women’s reproductive rights, policymakers must work to ensure that all women have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, including reproductive healthcare. Laws that restrict access to abortion and birth control must be overturned, and women’s healthcare providers must be protected from harassment and violence.

3. Workplace Discrimination

Women continue to face discrimination and bias in the workplace, from being passed over for promotions to being subjected to sexual harassment and assault. This not only harms individual women, but it also perpetuates gender inequality and reinforces harmful stereotypes about women’s abilities and value in the workplace.

To address this issue, policymakers must take action to enforce existing anti-discrimination laws and hold employers accountable for their actions. Companies must also be required to provide training on diversity and inclusion, and women must be empowered to speak out when they experience discrimination or harassment.

4. Political Representation

While women have made significant gains in political representation in recent years, they still make up only a small percentage of elected officials at all levels of government. This lack of representation not only limits women’s ability to shape policy and make decisions that affect their lives, but it also perpetuates gender inequality and reinforces harmful stereotypes about women’s abilities and value in leadership roles.

To address this issue, more women must be encouraged to run for office and supported in their campaigns. Political parties must also work to recruit and support women candidates, and voters must be educated about the importance of electing women to office.

In conclusion, while women have made significant progress in recent years, there is still much work to be done to ensure that women have equal rights and opportunities in all areas of life. By addressing issues such as equal pay, reproductive rights, workplace discrimination, and political representation, we can continue to make progress towards gender equality and create a more just and equitable society for all.