Women's Equality Day's first observance on Aug. 26, 1973, commemorated a 20th-century milestone in women's rights: Legal recognition of their right to vote. 

Women's Equality Day recognizes the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That milestone occurred on Aug. 18, 1920. 

However, finalizing women's right to vote required a man, U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby, to certify the change by signing one last document. He carried out this duty in his home without fanfare on August 26, 1920.

More than 50 years later, then-U.S. Rep. Bella Abzug of New York led the initiative to formally recognize this historic moment by designating August 26 as Women's Equality Day. The measure became law in 1973, and the observance continues annually on Aug. 26.

Continue reading for insight and ideas on how tech companies can honor the spirit of Women's Equality Day.

A snapshot of women in America's new normal

More women than men live in the U.S. Nearly 51% of America's approximately 331 million residents were women in 2021, according to U.S. Census data. And 57.4% of women were in the labor force in 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as compared to 69.2% of men that same year. 

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American women are still recovering from jobs lost during the pandemic. Women held 100,000 fewer jobs in July than in February 2020, according to an analysis of BLS employment data by the National Women's Law Center. Men held 132,000 more net jobs during the same time frame. 

In addition, the law center's report notes that many women, "especially those with caregiving responsibilities, disproportionately shifted from full-time to part-time work during the pandemic."

Yet women earn more college degrees than men and have done so for decades.

In the 2019-2020 academic year, women earned 58% of all bachelor's degrees. The trend of women earning more bachelor's degrees than men began nearly 40 years ago, in 1981.

Although more women earn college degrees, a big gap persists when it comes to how much money men earn from their jobs versus women. In 2020, a full-time working woman earned about 82% of what a full-time working man in America earned. White and Asian women earned more on average than Black and Latina women.

While that is unfair, it's worth noting the progress made. In 1979, women earned just 62% of what men did, according to BLS data.

Most men and tech companies want to be inclusive and inviting. Work cultures are stronger than individual intentions. Here is a key opportunity for leadership to create policies that keep efforts to improve gender and race equity at the forefront.

What workplace issues affect women in tech?

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Common misconceptions about working in tech

According to common misconceptions about working in tech, it's an antisocial, un-inclusive, male-centered industry. Do these ideas hold true in 2022?

In both our personal and professional lives, technology can connect us with new people and, unfortunately, expose us to harassment and other issues. 

Of course, everyone may experience these tech-related challenges. But women working in tech may face specific additional issues. 

Here are four familiar issues to consider.

The pandemic

COVID-19 impacted everyone in unique ways, including workforce shifts.

About 579,000 fewer women are in the labor force post-pandemic post-pandemic, recent federal data shows. 

One reason is women usually accept or take on more family-related caregiving responsibilities. As a result, they're more likely to reduce their work hours, decline or miss out on opportunities for projects or promotions, or leave their jobs altogether. 

Indeed found that 70% of women who cut their hours or quit their jobs reported a lack of support for their need to balance work and home life. 

Representation

Women in tech are outnumbered by men. According to one report, 72% of women in tech say they're outnumbered by 2:1 or more in meetings, and 26% percent said they're outnumbered by 5:1 or more. 

Women may feel their opportunities for mentorship or promotion are limited, and this feeling may indeed be a fact. A lack of representation