National Women's Equality Day — a time to honor and inspire

Ninety-five years ago today, women in the United States were granted the right to vote when the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was secured as law.

On August 26, we remember all the women suffragists, who fought relentlessly to give us this right that is sometimes taken for granted.

MORE WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY COVERAGE: MAKERS sound off on equal pay

While the vast majority of women in the U.S. have been born into a nation where voting rights came automatically on your 18th birthday, this wasn't always the case. On today's date, we remember all of the women suffragists, who fought relentlessly to give us this right that is sometimes taken for granted.

Here are some of the many notable moments in women's equality history:

The 19th amendment was officially introduced in 1878 by women across the nation, who believed they, too deserved the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton led the fight, under the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).

When the Supreme Court ruled against them in 1890, the suffragists knew they had to take on a more militant approach; Alice Walker formed the National Woman's Party in 1916. This group picketed the White House, and over 200 suffragists were arrested. These women went on hunger strike in prison, and had to be force fed to stay alive.

The act was finally passed in Congress in 1920 after much commotion and action, giving women nationwide the right to vote. Fifty-one years later in 1971, August 26 was first recognized as National Women's Equality Day.

On Wednesday, we look back on all that women have gone through to make today possible and thank them. While women have jumped through hurdles to make equality a national issue, there is a long way to go with regard to gender parody.

The chart below demonstrates the gender pay gap in the U.S:

See more eye-opening stories from our special coverage of Women's Equality Day:
5 times women dominated the gender equality battle this year
Three women leading the charge for equality in the workplace
MAKERS who weren't afraid to discuss equal pay
Women who fought for our equality