Celebrating Women's History Month
Did you know that up until 1968, a married woman in Texas could not own property or start a business without her husband’s consent? It’s hard to believe that was only 54 years ago.
As a woman-owned business, we’d be remiss not to acknowledge and celebrate women’s contributions to society throughout the years. Today, we recognize the achievements of one Texas woman in particular who paved the way for women’s equal rights.
Louise Raggio was part of the first generation of female lawyers in Texas and the driving force behind the state’s Marital Property Act of 1967 – a little-known but influential piece of legislation that gave women the right to own property, secure a bank loan, and start a business. Prior to the law, Texas law required married women to get permission from their husbands for every signature, lawsuit, and bank check. Yes, really.
The Marital Property Act of 1967 did not lead to immediate monumental change, but the number of women-owned businesses in Texas increased after its passage. Today, Texas is ranked as one of the nation’s friendliest environments for female business owners and entrepreneurs. Nationally, the number of female-owned businesses has increased by 3,000 percent since 1972.
This month we honor Louise Raggio and all the women before us who have dedicated their lives to ensuring equal rights for women and advancing women in business and real estate.
DID YOU KNOW?
Women didn’t fully gain the legal resources to apply for home loans until the 1970s.
In 1981, the Supreme Court finally unclassified women as being legally subordinate to their husbands in terms of property ownership and control.
Single women account for about 20 percent of annual home purchases in the US and more single women own homes than single men.
Here in North Texas, single women make up nearly 14 percent of the homeowner population.