TTEC Celebrates Women's Equality Day Thursday August 26th!

What is this day all about?

Women's Equality Day is celebrated in the United States on Aug. 26 to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the 19th Amendment which prohibits states and the federal government from denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. In short, the Amendment ensures women have the right to vote. The observance of the day not only commemorates the right to vote but also encourages women's continued efforts towards complete equality and is celebrated to renew that commitment. It's also a day of uplifting and empowering women while acknowledging progress, expressing gratitude for influential women, supporting local businesses run by diverse women and celebrating with loved ones. Aug. 26 became the nationally recognized day in 1971 when Bella Abzug introduced a successful bill designating the day as Women's Equality day.

There are countless examples of women who have carved a path toward a greater experience for women which contributes positively to our everyday lives. While this is a U.S. nationally recognized day, it's something women across the world can relate to.

TTEC is celebrating in a few ways: check out our social for details and save the date for a live Facebook event occurring on Thursday, Aug. 26 at 2p.m. MST!

This year, I'm turning forty and even within my lifetime I've seen a paradigm shift in terms of how women support and uplift each other. As an example, when I was young, I felt at times that women were taught to compete with one another but to the extent that there was only enough space for one of us in the room. Women also were taught to seek the approval or acceptance of men. Now, I see women locking arms in support of each other and making space for all of our voices to be heard, recognized and valued. It’s a beautiful thing. I was fortunate in my young life to have a mother and grandmother who taught me that gender norms were not something I had to abide by. I was encouraged to be the best version of myself. Case in point, as a child, if I wanted to play sports - I played sports and was encouraged to do so.

I was chatting with one of our recent hires who just graduated from college, Megan, and through our conversation we discussed the day's origin and continued focus on women's civil rights. At the same time, we discussed many examples in modern society where women have achieved great things. In the spirit of continued equality today, and looking towards the future, I'd like to highlight some examples that are in no particular order. Feel free to comment and share stories of other amazing women!

Women in sports

• Simone Biles, US Olympic athlete, is one of the most decorated gymnasts of all time. She has 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. This year, she dropped from some events to protect her mental and physical health and, in a conversation with the president of the United States, acknowledged how nice it is for mental health to be discussed in sports because "at the end of the day, we're humans before athletes."
• A'ja Wilson once tweeted that Lebron James' salary “must be nice.” At first she was criticized, however, in 2020, the WNBA and its players’ union reached a new agreement with improvements in pay and benefits. I think many would acknowledge there's still room for improvement in support of women athletes, but it took courageous voices, like A'ja and allies, to begin to drive change.
• Recently, Quinn, a member of the Canadian women's Olympic soccer team became the first transgender and non-binary athlete to win a gold medal when Canada won against Sweden in the finals.

Women in the U.S. military

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker is the first and only woman to ever receive the Medal of Honor. She graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree from Syracuse Medical College in 1855. She was denied commission as a medical officer but served as an unpaid volunteer surgeon at the U.S. Patent Office Hospital in Washington. She strongly opposed traditional women's dress, arguing they were uncomfortable, inhibited mobility, and spread dust and dirt. As a result, she wore what was then considered “men's clothing” stating it made doing her job easier.  Learn more about Dr. Mary Edwards Walker.

Women in business

• Kat Calvin is a lawyer and social entrepreneur who founded a nonprofit organization called Spread the Vote. The organization helps people obtain identification (IDs) needed to obtain jobs, housing, medical care and voting in voter ID states. One of the slogan's found on their website reads "An ID today, is a vote tomorrow."
• Kamala Harris is the first female Vice President of the United States and therefore the highest ranking female official in U.S. history.

Call to Action - Ways you can celebrate

Megan and I came up with a list of ideas to share with you:

• Take time to thank the women in your life for what they do every day or acknowledge something really special they've done
• Learn about women who have shaped history and helped make the world a better place
• Share, think about and discuss ideas or support local businesses or non-profits to make the future even better
• Volunteer for an organization that supports equality
• Register to vote
• Read a book by a female author or watch a movie with a strong woman lead
• Spend time with loved ones: mother's, sisters, daughters, friends, partners, etc. and celebrate their accomplishments
• Do a good deed for someone who would benefit from your time or support
• Celebrate our aging community by visiting a long term care home - my son recently bought a book of poetry written by a woman from a local long term care home
• Thank a healthcare worker - the pandemic has been hard on everyone and healthcare workers are on the front line working to care for people in need

Remember, join us on TTEC USA's Facebook page and meet many of the women of TTEC alongside our host Monica as they discuss what Women's Equality Day means to them on Thursday, Aug. 26 at 2p.m. MST!