Today, the Iowa Democratic Party celebrates the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.
The First Vice Chair of the Party, Andrea Phillips, released the following statement:
“The 19th Amendment is not only a recognition of the equal status of women in civil society, but also our power to organize. Women came together to fight against their own disenfranchisement and won. It’s a testament to our strength, a strength that we need now more than ever.
There’s a lot at stake for women right now.
Women still aren’t receiving equal pay for equal work, and the disparity is even greater for women of color. I was appalled to see Iowan women’s rights to make private health care decisions about our own bodies taken from us by the Republican-controlled legislature and signed into law by the Branstad-Reynolds administration. Then we saw Republicans in Congress try to charge women more for health insurance simply because of our biology. And these issues are far more difficult to tackle when women don’t have a seat at the table. Women only make up 19% of Congress and 22% of the Iowa State Legislature.
Just like women came together to pass the 19th Amendment, we need to channel that spirit to keep fighting for equality, keep fighting for our rights. When we work together, records are broken, laws are changed, and Iowa moves forward. We’re ready to do that again in 2018.”