Cohen Statement on Women’s History Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today issued the following statement on Women’s History Month, which is observed annually during the month of March:

“When the first International Women’s Day was observed in 1911, women in the United States did not have the right to vote and very few could pursue an education or a career. Although they were not officially counted as part of the workforce, American women still did the indispensable work of raising America’s children and tending to the unsung yet vital labors of the home.

“Today, all of those trends have reversed. Women not only have the franchise, but they make up the majority of registered voters. More women than men attend college and women are more likely to earn a college education. Women are now a vital part of our nation’s professional workforce and they serve honorably in the armed forces. The ‘glass ceiling’ still exists, but it is nearing its breaking point. And the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act – which I cosponsored – being signed into law later this week by President Obama also will help.

“In spite of these advances, the rights of women and girls are still under attack. A woman’s right to control her own body or to make private decisions with her physician is coming under assault in ways we have not seen in decades. And some employers continue to pay women less than men for equal work. As we celebrate the achievements of suffragists, feminists, and all other advocates for sex and gender equality, we must not become complacent and allow the victories of the past reduce our commitment to the battles ongoing today.”