Women’s Museum Of California Hosts Women’s Equality Day Celebration

The Women’s Museum of California will host its annual Women’s Equality Day celebration at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park.

The celebratory event “Reclaiming Our Rights,” held in conjunction with Women’s March San Diego, will start with a reception and preview of the museum’s latest exhibit “Looking Back, Moving Forward: The Evolution of the Women’s Movement in the United States.”

Up close and personal with prominent women community leaders

The evening will feature keynote speaker, California Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, who will talk about the importance of female role models in leadership positions and the renewed urgency to overhaul public policies to move us closer to a more equal society.

Following Senate Pro Tem Atkins’ speech, a panel discussion will convene to discuss the status of gender equality in our community. Through relevant discussions, presentations and storytelling, the panel will tackle tough and vital conversations about prevalent gender issues, including disability rights, transgender issues, financial equality, racial and ethnic disparities, ageism and more.

Among the panelists of prominent women community leaders are Professor Joely Proudfit, first Indigenous woman to be appointed to State Commission on Women and Girls; San Diego County Supervisor, Nora Vargas; and business entrepreneur and former San Diego City Council member, Barbara Bry.

“When we’re aware of critical components of equality, it empowers women to move forward to overcome obstacles to achieve their dreams and strives for a better, safer and more accessible world,” said Felicia Shaw, executive director of the nonprofit Women’s Museum of California.

Marking a historic milestone

According to Shaw, celebrating Women’s Equality Day commemorates the 1920 adoption of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the federal government and the states from denying the right to vote to citizens on the basis of sex.

Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the passage of the voting rights amendment, and this year’s theme – “Reclaiming Our Rights” – continues to mark this historic milestone and underscore the need for a new generation to continue the struggle for women’s equality, she said.

Get your free virtual tickets now!

Tickets for the cocktail reception, exhibit preview and panel discussion are $50 and can be purchased online here.

The keynote speech and panel discussion also will be available to the public for free via live stream on social media platforms. There is no cost for the live stream program but tickets must be reserved in advance here.

For more information or to register for the Women’s Equality Day event, call the museum at 619-233-7963 or visit the website.

About the Women’s Museum of California

The San Diego-based Women’s Museum of California is the only museum in California and one of five in the United States exclusively dedicated to women’s history. The museum’s vast archives, growing collections and administration offices are located at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park.

See you there, San Diego!