The Fight for Equal Rights

Number of "silent sentinels" arrested in 1917 and 1918 for picketing the White House in support of women's suffrage: more than 500
Typical jail sentence for "silent sentinels" convicted for "obstructing traffic": 30 to 60 days¹³

Percentage of American men supporting the Equal Rights Amendment in 1980: 55%
Percentage of American women supporting the Equal Rights Amendment in 1980: 47%¹⁴

Women's average earnings as a percentage of men's average earnings: 79%¹⁵

Poverty

Percentage of women living in poverty in America in 2008: 13.8
Percentage of men living in poverty in America in 2008: 11.1
Percentage of women over age 75 living in poverty in America in 2008: 13
Percentage of men over age 75 living in poverty in America in 2008: 6¹⁶

Government and Business

Number of women in the United States Senate in 2009: 17
Number of women in the House of Representatives in 2009: 73
Percentage of congressional seats held by women in 2009: 17¹⁷

Number of women CEOs heading America's largest 500 corporations in 2009: 10¹⁸

Education

Percentage of all bachelor's degrees earned by women in 2008: 59
Percentage of all master's degrees earned by women in 2008: 61
Number of women police officer in America in 2008: 84,000
Number of women firefighters in America in 2008: 9000
Percentage of American households in which women earn at least $5000 more than their husbands: 18
Number of girls participating in high school sports in 1976: 1.6 million
Number of girls participating in high school sports in 2006: 3 million¹⁹