The date was chosen to commemorate the day in 1920 when the Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the proclamation granting American women the constitutional right to vote.

In recent years, we have made other giant strides by attacking sex discrimination through our laws and by paving new avenues to equal economic opportunity for women.

Today, in virtually every sector of our society, women are making important contributions to the quality of American life.

[6] As of 2024[update], every president since Richard Nixon has issued a proclamation each year designating August 26 as Women's Equality Day.

"[11][12] The event encourages women to go topless in public, and men to cover their chests by wearing brassieres or bikinis.