My Personal Reasons for Celebrating Women’s Equality Day

Today’s celebration of Women’s Equality Day took me back to last October 1st when “Elizabeth Cady Stanton” portrayed by Melinda Grube surprised my audience at our annual retreat for women entrepreneurs by taking the stage dressed in 1900’s garb.

As Elizabeth spoke directly about her upbringing and passion for women’s equality, she moved the audience. You could hear a pin drop until the last moment she finished when the room erupted in thunderous applause. I remember wondering during the quietness of the room while she performed how women watching her would react afterwards. I have been a “feminist” for many years but surprising my audience with Elizabeth’s speech was my first bold step forward in trying to educate and inspire my entrepreneurial tribe of women to a higher feminist level.

I remember Elizabeth sharing the fact at that event that in 1848 the first Women’s Rights Convention of Seneca Falls produced one of America’s great documents – the Declaration of Sentiment. It is best known for its advocacy of the right of women’s suffrage, but the vote was only one of a long list of demands put forward by that courageous assembly. Among the leaders of the convention was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a young mother who first noted economic inequalities between men and women as a child in her father’s law office. During her long career, she was a champion of women’s rights to keep and control their own property and to receive equal pay for equal work. She demanded equality of education and opportunity for her own daughters and for the daughters of the nation. In her personal life as well as in her work as a public speaker and social reformer, she knew that there are few things more potent than the power of the purse strings.

I met this “Elizabeth Cady Stanton” at an award ceremony at the Women’s Rights Park in Seneca Falls in 2015 when I was awarded a “Makers Award” for my contribution in promoting and supporting women entrepreneurs for two decades in New York State. I remember Elizabeth saying to me, “Tracy at the end of my life, I didn’t think I did enough to change the world for women but it makes me very grateful to women like you who are continuing our work. Thank you.” I had chills. I still do when I think of the moment. I was forever changed by that statement.

Today I hope you recognize the plight of so many women before us who fought for equality and who still fight for women’s rights in so many ways. Every day I hope you think of ways you can elevate women in today’s generation and in the generation to follow. I dream you will continue to live my personal and Women TIES corporate mission to put your money in the hands, bank accounts and pocketbooks of women whenever you can! We owe it to ourselves, our foremothers like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and to the women who follow us.