2022 NWOhio Women's Equality Day

Women of Toledo to organize the 4th Annual Northwest Ohio Women’s Equality Day celebration with a community dialogue on the theme: Stay Furious, Build Power.

Women across the nation are furious. Between reproductive healthcare restrictions and rising maternal mortality rates, especially among Black women, to pervasive gun violence and the escalating “she-cession,” and so many other issues, it is no wonder we are angry.

Now is the time to harness our fury into building power with other women and allies so that we can create solutions that work for us and reclaim our rights. Join us this Women’s Equality Day for a dialogue that will increase our collective awareness of what is happening in women’s lives and identify strategies to enhance women’s rights in the United States, specifically in Toledo.

With the support of local women’s groups, organizations, and our partners, Women of Toledo will host guest speakers and roundtable dialogues on contemporary women's issues on Friday, August 26, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at The Summit, 23 N Summit St, Toledo, OH 43604. Participants will learn about gender equity issues and connect with Toledo-area leaders to make a change in our communities.

Topics for discussion include:

• Economic Equity is one of the major barriers that prevent women and other minorities from having equal status. Women still earn 82 cents for every dollar men make, and the gap is even wider for black and Latinx women (Forbes, 2021). Without economic equity, women will continue to struggle.
• Healthcare Access is important in determining the trajectory of a woman’s life. Women’s futures are jeopardized when we are denied bodily autonomy and the ability to have input on our health.
• Political Representation determines the well-being of women across the country. When women have a seat at the table, we bring our diverse life experiences and ensure critical issues facing women are being addressed.
• Violence is a deadly threat to women around the world. Women are at risk of violence in the workplace, in education settings, on the streets, and inside our homes. Women’s well-being is firmly associated with safety, which makes eliminating violence a priority.
• Workplace and Marketplace Equity is critical to achieving economic and social equity for women. Women continue to face discrimination, harassment, and barriers to career advancement and owning a business. Workplace and marketplace equity is necessary to create economic independence and a safe environment for women.

Women of Toledo believe that these topics are significant issues that require public awareness and education. Speakers with an area of expertise for these topics and dialogues are effective advocacy practices that will have the potential to enforce economic and systemic social change.

Preliminary Agenda

10:45 am Registration & Check-in

11:00 am Welcome, Lunch, and Intentional Dialogue with Leaders

11:30 am Speakers Program

12:15 pm Discussion and Community Dialogue

12:45 pm Call to Action with Gender Equity Commission or CEDAW

What is Women’s Equality Day?

Women’s Equality Day recognizes the passage of the 19th Amendment extending voting rights to women in 1920. This event culminated in a 72-year, peaceful campaign that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Even though the 19th Amendment extended the voting rights to women, only white women were allowed to exercise voting. Despite this important constitutional amendment, women in the US have continued to face various barriers based on their intersectional identities. Gender, race, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, nationality, language, and religion are determinant factors in shaping women’s experiences, which is why it is essential for women in Greater Toledo to discuss how gender-based oppression intersects with other forms of discrimination. Women of Toledo is committed to honoring the legacy of women’s movements by continuing to address how we can reach equality for all people.