Equality means advocating for invisible needs
When people talk about women’s rights, they usually speak about big moments. Incredible historical milestones like the 19th Amendment dominate the discussion and hide a simple fact:
Women’s basic needs are often invisible to people who are not struggling to meet them.
And it’s not only women. Most basic needs are invisible to us until we have to live without them. How often do able-bodied people concern themselves with accessible parking until they are injured and on crutches? How often do you think about your electricity usage before your power goes out? What about safety needs that certain people will never experience—like protection from racial or religious discrimination? For people not facing such barriers, women’s inability to open bank accounts or navigate workplace harassment were of no concern.
Friday, August 26, is Women’s Equality Day, which celebrates the certification of the 19th Amendment granting many women* voting rights and honors ongoing work pursuing women’s equality. But this holiday is not just for the major milestones. It also celebrates the advocates who make invisible needs visible to others. The advocates we celebrate today show us that we don’t need to experience a hardship to show up and help.
Today, vulnerable women still struggle with needs that are largely invisible to the public. Working moms without childcare support are torn between the needs of their jobs and their children. Women experiencing domestic abuse, food insecurity, or houselessness often don’t present their struggles publicly. Women who face multiple battles—in mental illness, disability, or financial instability—may not know where to turn for help. Most daily difficulties are made worse by the inequalities women face, even in modern society.
At Ruth’s House, we are committed to providing women with love, care, and stability by creating a place of sanctuary for them. By focusing on the things—big and small—that young single moms need to get back on their feet, we plan to meet them where they are and help them get where they’re going.
We know that compassion-centered service is a priority, even on a small scale. That’s why we designed our mission around single moms and their areas of need. We plan to provide educational and life skills training to help Ruth’s House moms secure stable employment. We plan to emotionally nurture their self-worth, so they can move bravely through the world with the confidence of God’s love. And we plan to provide for physical needs, including a safe and comfortable place for their families to sleep, eat, and recover while they explore what comes next.
Despite the efforts of so many, we have still not achieved women’s equality. Biases—unconscious or intentional—still interfere with our vision of a world where women and men enjoy the same freedoms. But by asking ourselves the question, “What needs and rights of others are invisible to me?” we move forward in our love, our advocacy, and our efforts toward equality.
To make a difference in the lives of vulnerable women, we welcome you to contribute a monthly gift to Ruth’s House to help us serve single moms who need support.
*Black women were not protected from widespread voting discrimination until the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and Indigenous women were not given voting rights until the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924.