Established by Congress in 1971, Women’s Equality Day was designed to commemorate the long struggle of generations of women to gain the right to vote.
The observance also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts today towards full equality.
The women’s suffrage movement began in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention/ in Seneca Falls, N.Y. Convened by suffragist leaders Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, the committee published a “Declaration of Sentiments.” The declaration outlined key social, civil and political demands for women, helping the cause of women’s suffrage gain national prominence. Nearly 72 years later, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was passed Aug. 26, 1920, granting women throughout the United States the right to vote.
Below are six things to know about women’s service in the Navy:
-- Women first entered Naval service in 1908 with the establishment of the Navy Nurse Corps, 12 years before women were granted the right to vote.
-- Women continued to serve in the Navy in varying capacities throughout World War I and World War II.
-- It was not until June 12, 1948, with the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act that women gained permanent status in the U.S. armed services.
-- The first six enlisted women were sworn into regular U.S. Navy service July 7, 1948. Four months later the first eight female Naval officers were commissioned Oct. 15, 1948.
-- Women were first assigned to selected non-combatant ships in 1978, and opportunities were later broadened to include service on warships in 1994 following the repeal of the combat exclusion law.
-- Three Sailors assigned to USS Maine (SSBN 741) and USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=70940 became the first female unrestricted line officers to qualify in submarines Dec. 5, 2012
As of March 2015, women in the Navy make up 17 percent of the active and Reserve forces – more than 59,000 active duty and 9,000 Navy Reserve.
View the Navy Live infographic blog or Naval History and Heritage Command webpage.
From Navy Live Blog, the official blog of the U.S. Navy: http://navylive.dodlive.mil/.