Rebecca Durkee to Give Sept. 17 Constitution Day Talk

In celebration of Constitution Day on Sept. 17, sociology instructor Rebecca Durkee will discuss the centennial of the 19th Amendment. The passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment was a pivotal step in recognizing the right of women throughout the country to vote. Specifically, this amendment explicitly barred discrimination in voting based on one’s “sex,” (since interpreted by the Supreme Court to include gender and gender-identity.)

Originally, the Constitution made no reference to sex or gender with regards to voter discrimination. However, practices varied widely across the states and generally resulted in discrimination against those who did not own land (at a time when it was practically impossible for African or Native American men or any women to legally own land.) In addition, many states explicitly prohibited voting for people who were not men. Thus, women were prevented from voting in many instances. The ratification of the 19th Amendment helped to ensure that many women could exercise this civic duty.

A controversial aspect of this amendment is the common belief that after 1920, all women were “allowed” to vote, commonly known as universal suffrage. However, while the 19th Amendment should have guaranteed the right to vote for all people regardless of sex, women of color continued to face discrimination at the polls for many years, despite African Americans’ right to vote being protected under the 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870.

Durkee will speak live at 2 p.m. at Anna Whitten Hall. The talk will be broadcast via Zoom to the rest of the college and will also be recorded. Register here.