Women’s Equality Day honors the adoption of the 19th Amendment
TOLEDO – Students at Toledo Pre-Medical and Health Science Academy had an opportunity to discuss women’s right to vote, along with social expectations of today, during a Women’s Equality Day program Monday.
The discussion was led by Dr. Amerah Archer, acting executive director of Toledo Public Schools’ Department of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The other speaker was Sheena Barnes, a Toledo Public Schools board member.
Women’s Equality Day honors the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which extended voting rights to women, in August 1920. Events in the Toledo area marking the anniversary also included the Northwest Ohio Women’s Equality Day conference Monday at the Glass City Center.
“Voting is how we get things accomplished,” Archer told the students.
Eight high school juniors opted to attend the program, including Payyon Parker, Zaida Marino and Jaylyn Guilford. The chairs were placed in a circle upon invitation of Archer, who hoped the setting would spark discussions that might not otherwise happen in a classroom setting.
While the emphasis was on voting and women in leadership roles, they also talked about what it’s like to be a woman working in the medical careers.
Toledo Pre-Medical and Health Science Academy, a partnership of Toledo Public Schools and ProMedica, is a four-year high school at the Upton Avenue academic campus. The program is in its third year, and the oldest students are now juniors.
“Who do you think goes out to the polls more? It’s women!” Archer said when starting the discussion.
That was a surprise to Zaida. “I see more men running,” she said.
“You can all be an elected official,” Barnes said later, sharing her story of how she was invited to run for a school board seat. “We need more intelligent young women in office to keep fighting for our equity.”
To tie women’s history into the students’ career interests, Archer said that while women make up a majority of all those working in health careers, only about 1/3 of currently active physicians are women.
“Pursue the career you want to pursue. Don’t take it because it is the shorter route and you want to have kids,” Archer said, relating how she worked on her PhD part-time during her son’s toddler and preschool years.
Discussion topics also included who is expected to handle family responsibilities, depictions of women in popular culture, and social media trends featuring unrealistic physical appearances.
“You are beautiful already,” Barnes said.
Each student attending got a keepsake card from Archer, with a collage of women’s faces as the artwork. She invited them to write themselves an encouraging note to save, or perhaps give the card to another woman whom they wish to encourage.
