Women's Inequality Day: League Toolkit

 

Table of Contents

• Overview
• General Guidance
  • Talking Points
• Social Media Guidance
  • Graphics & Videos
  • Sample Captions
• Email Guidance
• Op-eds and Letters to the Editor
• Additional Resources

Overview

August 26, otherwise known as Women’s Equality Day, marks the anniversary of the certification of the 19th Amendment, which granted some women the right to vote in 1920.  

In 2022, we declared this day to be Women’s Inequality Day in the aftermath of the Supreme Court rollbacks of reproductive freedom (in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Center) and the failure of Congress to pass voting rights legislation or add the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.  

One year later, we have seen the impact of the Dobbs decision on women and those who can become pregnant. We have seen anti-voter laws passed in states nationwide that could silence voters at the polls in the months ahead. And a century after it was first introduced, we are still calling on Congress to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and make it part of our Constitution. 

The fight for women’s equality has always been grounded in the right to vote. When some women have fewer rights and access, we cannot call ourselves equal or celebrate equality. 

This August, women are standing together demanding that our rights be restored, our voices be heard, and that we ourselves be seen and treated as equals in our democracy. Together, we have the power to create a more perfect and inclusive nation that celebrates our diversity and welcomes everyone to participate. We can create the change we need and want with the power of our votes.

Our Campaign

Our campaign will spread the word about women’s equality on social media while lifting our voices to our legislators. We are sending Congress a petition letting them know about our women’s equality wish list:

1. Passing voting rights legislation; 
2. Adding the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution; and 
3. Restoring reproductive rights

Leagues can take action by adding their name to our petition, sharing this petition in their communities, and participating in our digital campaigns. Leagues can elevate our call to action on their own social media platforms using the graphics, video, and sample captions provided below. 

SIGN OUR PETITION FOR WOMEN'S EQUALITY

This campaign will last throughout the month of August. We recognize that Leagues may already have content or campaigns planned for Women's Equality Day. This toolkit is available for Leagues interested in participating in our campaign. Leagues are not required to align with LWVUS's messaging around Women's Equality Day.  

Please note that this toolkit will be updated throughout the month of August, so stay tuned!

General Guidance

Tag LWVUS in your posts!

• Facebook: League of Women Voters of the US 
• Instagram: @leagueofwomenvoters 
• Twitter: @LWV 
• TikTok: @LWV

Refer to our talking points when creating any content.

• Personalized line: Women’s equality means a world where _______ 

[Personalize this with what you envision! Some ideas are “a world where women are compensated fairly for their work; a world where women have control over their own reproductive choices; a world where women’s voices are valued as much as everyone else’s”]

• August 26, or Women’s Equality Day, marks the anniversary of the certification of the 19th Amendment, which granted some women the right to vote in 1920. Notably, then, as now, women of color faced additional barriers to representation in our democracy. 
• Today, we have fewer rights than we have had in decades. 
• The fight for women’s equality has always been grounded in the right to vote. When some women have fewer rights and access, we cannot call ourselves equal and we cannot celebrate equality. 
• This August, women are standing together demanding our rights restored, demanding to be heard, and demanding to be seen and treated as equals. Together, we have the power to create a more perfect and inclusive democracy. 
• My voting wish list includes: adding the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, restoring reproductive rights, and protecting women’s voices at the ballot. 
• Let your representatives know that the above asks are on your Women’s Equality Day wish list. Sign the League of Women Voters’ petition at LWV.org/WID23.

Spread the word and take action with our campaign landing page and petition.

• Campaign Website: https://www.lwv.org/WID 
• Petition: https://www.lwv.org/WID23
• Share our campaign videos and graphics, using our custom hashtag: #WID23

Social Media Guidance

Graphics & Videos

 

Below Leagues can find sample social media graphics for #WID23. Graphics are sized for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and League in Action. Click the button below to download.

WOMEN'S INEQUALITY DAY 2023: GRAPHICS

Additionally, last year LWVUS produced campaign videos, including messages from our CEO, Virginia Kase Solomón, LWVUS board president, Dr. Deborah Ann Turner, and other women leaders from our national partners. Leagues can access our 20-second video on our YouTube channel and reshare it on their social media profiles. 

In the coming weeks, LWVUS will share more videos in this toolkit that Leagues are welcome to elevate throughout the campaign.

Sample Captions

Below we've drafted some sample captions for all social media platforms. 

Due to Twitter's duplicative/"copypasta" policies, we recommend Leagues avoid copying & pasting these captions and sharing from their social media profiles. Instead, we've drafted these captions as a jumping-off point for Leagues and encourage you to reword individual examples for your audience.

Throughout August

Throughout the month, we’re joining [LWVUS’ username]’s #WID23 campaign to let our lawmakers know that we stand for women’s equality. Learn more: ➡️ www.lwv.org/WID23

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Every Aug 26, we celebrate the accomplishments women have made and commemorate the 19th Amendment. But this year, we cannot celebrate. 

Join us this August and demand that women not only be represented in our democracy but included as equals. #WID23 Learn more: www.lwv.org/WID23

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This August, women are standing together demanding our rights be restored, demanding to be heard, and demanding to be seen and treated as equals. Join us and tell your reps that you support women’s equality #WID23: ➡️ www.lwv.org/WID23

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We have collective power. ✊ ✊🏼 ✊🏾 ✊🏿  Now is not the time to be silent.  

Join us on Aug 26 for #WID23 ➡️ www.lwv.org/WID23

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On Aug 26, we’re demanding our rights be restored and protected. We call on Congress to: 

1️⃣ Pass voting rights legislation 

2️⃣ Add the ERA to the Constitution 

3️⃣ Restore reproductive rights 

Let your reps know that you support women’s equality. Sign LWV’s petition: www.lwv.org/WID23 #WID23

On Aug. 26

Today we cannot celebrate Women’s Equality Day because we are far from equal in our democracy.  

Let Congress know your women’s equality wish list: 

1️⃣Pass voting rights legislation 

2️⃣ Add the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution 

3️⃣ Restore reproductive rights  

Sign LWV’s petition: www.lwv.org/WID23 #WID23

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📢 What do we want?  

👥Voting rights, the ERA, and reproductive freedoms! 

📢When do we want them? 

👥NOW! #WID23  

Let Congress know: www.lwv.org/WID23

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We may not be equal under the laws of our nation, but together our power is undeniable. Let Congress know that women's equality is on your wish list ➡️ www.lwv.org/WID23 #WID23 

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Let Congress know they must protect women’s right to vote, ensure that the ERA is added to the Constitution, and restore reproductive freedom for all. Sign LWV’s petition: www.lwv.org/WID23 #WID23

Email to Supporters

We encourage you to send an update about Women’s Inequality Day to your supporters! Below Leagues can find a sample draft to send to their email distribution list:

[First Name], 

On August 26, the world will celebrate Women’s Equality Day. 

Yet today, women have fewer rights than we’ve had in decades.

The League launched Women's Inequality Day in 2022, uniting with partners to let Congress know our women’s equality wish list: 

• Pass voting rights legislation; 
• Add the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution; and  
• Restore our reproductive rights. 

Please join us in sharing this message (and our new petition) [LINK TO PETITION] via social media using this toolkit and the hashtag #WID23 [LINK TBA].

We won’t stop working until we’ve gained full equality. 

 

In League,

[Your Name]

Op-eds and Letters to the Editors

Letters to the editors and op-ed are great tools to share our Women’s Inequality Day campaign with your community. Leagues can find guidance on pitching and drafting op-eds and LTEs here. 

Please refer to our talking points under General Guidance. Additionally, Leagues should only pitch to regional or local publications. Leagues should not submit op-eds to large national publications, such as the New York Times or the Washington Post. For questions, please contact [email protected].

Additional Resources

League in Action

Leagues are welcome to share our Women's Inequality Day via League in Action, LWV's digital organizing muscle. Leagues can learn more about League in Action, powered by Outreach Circle, here. 

Blogs

• Blog Series: One Year After Dobbs 
• 100 Years of the Equal Rights Amendment