Embrace and amplify women’s voices for a better nation

Last week, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment — the direct result of years of relentless tenacity from suffragettes who were emboldened by the idea that America is strongest when all Americans have a voice. A constitutional guarantee protecting the right to vote for women represented not only a hard-won legal victory but also an acknowledgment of the contributions of American women to the safety and security of the country.

For me, this anniversary is a stark reminder that this November, we have a chance to advance the mission of these bold Americans by choosing a leader who sees strength in diversity.

During the Obama-Biden administration, I served as the secretary of the Air Force — at the time, only the second woman in the history of our nation to serve as a service secretary. Too often, women have served this country and advanced the national defense but been denied public credit or the titles they deserve; their stories have gone untold, relegated to the footnotes of American history.

Take, for example. the Black women who toiled in munitions factories during World War I but were forced, in many places, to continue the fight for enfranchisement until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

During World War II, women, flying as members of the WASPs, towed targets and ferried aircraft but were denied status as members of the armed forces. Women, quietly recruited by the Army and Navy, secretly broke the codes that enabled the U.S. to defeat the Nazi submarine threat and advance the Allied effort in the Pacific theater. Women, serving with NASA, did the calculations that helped us reach the moon but were denied attribution until recently.

Women have served with distinction in our armed forces and intelligence agencies — be it as nurses in Vietnam, spies in the Cold War, medical evacuation pilots in the Gulf, or convoy commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan. But, much of this service happened in the shadows. The suffragettes won the right to vote but the fight continues.

This fight — which is especially fraught for women of color for whom the challenges are even more profound — is now for long overdue voice, recognition, and respect.

The silencing of and lack of respect for women has been especially apparent in the Trump administration where women are, time and time again, noticeably absent from senior decision making roles. The dangers of excluding women and failing to tell their stories are far more grave than the risk of bad optics. During my time as secretary, I worked with the Obama-Biden White House to launched diversity and inclusion initiatives based on the premise that our force was stronger and more able to meet the complex challenges of today’s threat environment when our force is diverse.

This is the same truth that drove the fearless public service of the suffragettes — that America’s strength is in its diversity.

While the 100-year anniversary of the 19th Amendment feels momentous, acknowledging this benchmark is not enough. Our leaders must elevate women and amplify their stories. I know that Joe Biden understands this because I’ve seen him in action. I had the privilege of watching him interact with the future leaders of our Air Force and saw him engage earnestly, drawing strength from their stories and appreciating the breadth of their experiences. And it is not just words — Vice President Biden has already taken action in his campaign, naming Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate. In addition, he has committed to nominating a woman of color to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Joe Biden and I know what the suffragettes knew before us — the soul of America is in her people, the strength of America is in her diversity, and the future of America is secured by our collective belief in her potential. In November, we must make a choice that reflects the hope of the suffragist movement and honors the legacy of the women who have served this country with courage and integrity.