IPFW commemorates Women's Equality Day

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) To commemorate Woman's Equality Day, IPFW held a panel discussion at the downtown library with the League of Women Voters, AAUW, the YWCA of Northeast Indiana and the Women's Bureau.

The topic of discussion was the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which granted women the right to vote.

The panel included: Dr. Susan Hannah, Professor of Political Science, IPFW; Dr. Ruby Cain, Assistant Professor/Advisor Adult and Community Education, Ball State University; Harriet Miller, Founding Mother and first Executive Director of the Women’s Bureau and 2011 Torchbearer Recipient.

The panel of experts focused on November's general election and spoke about how women's interests in politics have changed over the years.

"If you are a product of the woman's movement in the 1970s, you know how important the woman's viewpoint is." said Nancy McCammon-Hansen who works with the League of Women Voters. "That has dropped off quite a bit in the last few years.  So one of the things that we are trying to do is encourage younger woman to be a part of the political process, to get out there, to know the issues to know who the candidates are and voice their opinion by pushing that vote button."

Each year, the president uses Women's Equality Day to commemorate the 19th Amendment. Since 1971, every president has published a proclamation for Women's Equality day since it was first introduced in Congress by Bella Abzug.