THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING AUGUST 26, 2009, AS

Women’s Equality Day

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WHEREAS, since 1971, the date of August 26 has been set aside nationally to commemorate the 1920 ratification of the 19^th Amendment to the US Constitution, to recognize and guarantee women their voting rights, and to highlight women’s continuing efforts toward full equality; and

WHEREAS, universal suffrage was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement, with roots in the July 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, the first women’s rights convention in the United States and often credited as the birthplace of feminism; and

WHEREAS, over the past 89 years, women have made significant strides towards equality, including the Equality Pay Act of 1963 that promised wage equality; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that outlawed gender-based employment discrimination; and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 that assured American women equal opportunities in educational and athletic programs; and

WHEREAS, as of 2009, a woman continues to serve as speaker of the US House of Representatives, as US Secretary of State and a woman was the first Republican vice-presidential nominee. In the California State Legislature, 20 women are in the Assembly and 13 in the state Senate, totaling 27.5 percent of the 120 seats available, and for the first time ever, three woman serve on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors; and

WHEREAS, despite historic changes in laws and attitudes, true equality remains elusive. The 111^th US Congress has just 93 women members and women hold less than a quarter of all seats in the 50 state legislatures, and less than a quarter of all statewide elected offices. In the corporate world, just 2.6 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, and a 2007 study by the American Association of University Women found that 10 years after college, women earn only 69 percent of what men earn; and

WHEREAS, Women’s Equality Day is an opportunity for everyone to remember and to teach youth that the rights and privileges women enjoy today were hard-won and that such progress requires protection and vigilance, both at the ballot box and by continuing to work for true equality at all levels.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, hereby designates August 26, 2009, as Women’s Equality Day in recognition of the importance of continued efforts to improve the status of women in San Mateo County, across California, the United States and around the world.

Dated: AUGUST 26, 2009

SUPERVISORS:

MARK CHURCH, PRESIDENT

CAROLE GROOM

RICHARD S. GORDON

ROSE JACOBS GIBSON

ADRIENNE J. TISSIER

Attest:

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Deputy Clerk of the Board of Supervisors