Violet
I am excited about the monument because it isn't fair that girls aren't on the National Mall.
“From my perspective as a wife, mother, and teacher, my life is so much different, and better, because of the women who came before me. Their courage, persistence, and willingness to challenge unfair limits opened doors that I often get to walk through without even realizing how hard those doors were to push open. Because of them, I am able to vote, work, teach, continue my education, raise my child with more opportunities, and use my voice in ways that were once denied to women. My vision for the monument would be a timeline that tells the story of the women’s movement, beginning with the early fight for basic rights and continuing through major milestones such as voting rights, education access, workplace equality, leadership, and representation. I think it would be powerful for visitors to walk alongside that timeline and see how each generation of women helped move the next generation forward. After the timeline of the movement, the monument could shift into a celebration of the many major innovations, discoveries, and contributions created by women. This section could highlight women in science, medicine, education, technology, literature, business, public service, and the arts. It would show that women were not only fighting for a place in society, but they were also actively shaping and improving the world. To me, the message of the monument should be that progress is not something we inherit and forget about. It is something we are responsible for protecting and continuing. As a mother and teacher, I want my son and my students to understand that the opportunities we have today came from the strength and sacrifice of others. My hope is that this monument would honor the women who came before us while also reminding all of us that our goal should be to leave the world better for those who come after us.”
The phrase that inspired me most was “better for those who come after.” As a wife, mother, and teacher, that idea feels very personal to me. I think about the women who lived with limits I will never fully understand, yet still found the courage to speak, work, teach, lead, create, and push forward.
I was inspired by the quiet strength found in everyday women, not just the famous names in history books. Mothers who wanted more for their daughters. Teachers who opened minds. Women who kept going when society told them to stay silent. Inventors and problem-solvers who saw a need and created something useful. Their stories remind me that change does not happen all at once. It happens because people keep showing up, even when the progress is slow.
The words that stayed with me were courage, legacy, opportunity, and responsibility. Courage honors the women who fought for change. Legacy reminds us that we benefit from their sacrifices. Opportunity reflects the doors that were opened for us. Responsibility reminds us that we now have a duty to keep those doors open for the next generation.
To me, the heart of this idea is simple: their courage became our opportunity, and our responsibility is to carry it forward.
Featured Submissions
Leslie
My grandmother, Juana, came to the United States from the Philippines in 1973 and opened the door to the life I was born into. She was gentle but strong, and her love shaped our big, close family in ways I carry with me every day. When I think about the monument, I see her and all the women whose quiet courage, often unseen, built the foundation for the generations that came after them.
Graham
I am inspired by the suffragists bravery when protesting outside the White House even when they knew they would get arrested.
Diane
I am inspired by the suffragists creativity and resilience. I sewed this replica banner with one of my favorite slogans from the suffrage movement, "Forward Into Light".
Sloane
My drawing is of a strong independent woman holding the women's suffrage flag that I feel represents this movement in history and continues to hold true today.
Lily
My monument idea is one that honors the fight of the past while allowing space for the future of women’s rights to come. It is of a sash winding and rising upwards towards a fire. The fire represents courage, endurance, and the many voices of women who fought, and continue to fight for equality. It is a flame that can never be extinguished. At the bottom of the sash are symbols of the early suffrage movement such as a “Women Vote” button, a suffrage bluebird, and a yellow suffrage rose. The middle of the sash has the saying, “They ignited the flame. Our Voices Keep it Burning.” This honors the fight of those who came before us, and encourages new voices to continue their efforts for equality. The top of the sash is left empty and unwritten to allow for the next generation to leave their mark.
