The University of Akron School of Law (Brennan Courtroom 180)

The focus of the 2019 conference is the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.

Soon after its passage in June 1919, and its ratification by the states in August 1920, the voting amendment was interpreted as a broad command for gender equality. However, that trend was quickly reversed, narrowing the impact and intent of the amendment and its 72 years of advocacy.

This conference explores the original goal of the amendment of systemic equality for women. It brings together scholars from law, history, political science, and women’s studies to engage in a day of intensive scholarly discussion about the implications of the amendment, and its social, legal, and political context.