MT. LAUREL, N.J. – Coinciding with Women’s Equality Day, the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (NJ DCF), in partnership with the Alice Paul Institute, celebrated the Division on Women’s (DOW) 50-Year Anniversary last week during the Institute’s Women’s Equality Day Festival. The festival included various activities throughout the day, including a panel discussion titled “Women’s Movement in New Jersey: Trajectory Over the Last 50 Years and the Road Ahead,” where prominent New Jersey women leaders explored the history of the women’s movement in the state and efforts toward gender equality.
In 1973, the United States Congress passed legislation officially recognizing August 26 as Women’s Equality Day to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted certain women voting rights. A year later, on August 26, 1974, then-New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne signed legislation formally establishing DOW.
“As we celebrate Women’s Equality Day and recognize all the sacrifices and contributions made by generations of women across our country, we envision a better future for all women and young girls based on decisions and investments we are making today,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “For 50 years, the NJ Division on Women has worked to support and advance women in our state in many different areas from education to child care to health care and beyond. I am eager to support the Division’s next 50 years as we work together to uplift future generations of women and young girls across New Jersey.”
“Celebrating our DOW’s 50th Anniversary and Women’s Equality Day together with our partners at the Alice Paul Institute is of special significance,” said DCF Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer. “It’s an opportunity to reflect back on the extraordinary work performed over five decades at DOW in support of women and young girls—the many lives touched, inspired, strengthened, and lifted up—and recognize progress made while honoring figures like suffragist Alice Paul who paved the way toward women's equality.”
As an integral part of NJ DCF, DOW's mission is to create, promote, and expand rights and opportunities for all women in New Jersey. The Division works to elevate issues related to women's empowerment and equality ensuring their needs are recognized and supported. Services provided by DOW have adapted over time to meet women's needs including culturally specific services for survivors of domestic violence.
In 2023 alone, DOW served more than 60,000 individuals seeking domestic or sexual violence support; tens of thousands more accessed services such as employment assistance or financial planning.
“We’ve made gains in every area imaginable—more equitable but not yet equal wages; better work-life balance; fairer political representation," said DOW Director Anna Martinez. “In less than a lifetime we have shattered many glass ceilings but there remains much work ahead.”
“Thanks to support from Governor Murphy and legislature backing," added Martinez "DOW remains focused on providing safe dignified homes enabling survivors rebuilding lives post-domestic violence."
For more information about NJDCF/DOW programs visit https://www.nj.gov/dcf/women/index.html or call Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233).
