A lot of these daily celebrations are fun or cute, but today felt like it was more important. Women’s Equality. Because of today’s importance, I took to Facebook for ideas on how to celebrate. Thank you for the responses!

Women’s Equality is celebrated on August 26th because it is the anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

So I did a few things today.

First, I listened to an interview of Bertha Modrzynski for The Cleveland Memory Project. Bertha immigrated from Poland with her family in the early 1900s. In her interview from 1986, she talks about growing up in Cleveland, working during the war, and learning to build machinery on the factory floor a day at a time, because she got bored just sitting in the office.

Second, I registered to vote in New York City. (I’ve been absentee voting for years because I move so much.)

Third, I watched this youtube video called “Gloria Steinem and Women’s Strike for Equality.”

Finally, I will be ending my day by watching The Long Walk Home on Netflix.

I thought a lot about who I am and what all these women who have gone before me have contributed to my life. Women have fought and sacrificed for the rights that I have today. And the fight continues. Growing up, “feminist” always seemed to carry a negative connotation, so I’ve always been a little shy when it comes to describing myself that way.

Feminist: the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.

I’m a Feminist.

Cost of today’s celebration: $0