For the first time in U.S. history, a woman has been nominated by a major political party for the presidency. This is particularly meaningful as we celebrate the 96th anniversary of women's suffrage on Aug. 26. We salute the courageous suffragists who for almost a century fought to win women the right to vote.

This right did not, by itself, improve the status of women in America. We have fought for our rights and opportunities all these years since. With the help of federal laws such as Title IX, Title VII, and Equal Employment Opportunity, women have become competitive in many fields.

Despite some continuing barriers, increasing numbers of women are successful in law, medicine, business, scientific research, administration, athletics and politics.

We have made progress in many ways, but we have not been successful in winning support for the Equal Rights Amendment. First proposed in 1923, it has never won approval by the 38 states required to put it in the Constitution. It is time; time to assure that our rights are protected.

Now, finally, we have a woman close to occupying the Oval Office. This is a thrilling moment for those of us who have continued the fight for equality. It is a significant milestone for all women and girls.

CAPTION State Rep. Anthony Sabatini told the Orlando Sentinel recently that none of the warnings by university officials about guns on campus have come to pass. Anecdotally, they have. So we rated Sabatini's statement Mostly Fake. State Rep. Anthony Sabatini told the Orlando Sentinel recently that none of the warnings by university officials about guns on campus have come to pass. Anecdotally, they have. So we rated Sabatini's statement Mostly Fake. CAPTION State Rep. Anthony Sabatini told the Orlando Sentinel recently that none of the warnings by university officials about guns on campus have come to pass. Anecdotally, they have. So we rated Sabatini's statement Mostly Fake. State Rep. Anthony Sabatini told the Orlando Sentinel recently that none of the warnings by university officials about guns on campus have come to pass. Anecdotally, they have. So we rated Sabatini's statement Mostly Fake. CAPTION Seminole County is among several local governments taking a hard look at their sign regulations to make sure they comply with a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Seminole County is among several local governments taking a hard look at their sign regulations to make sure they comply with a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. CAPTION When Adam Levine took off his shirt during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIII, many noted the hypocrisy of the halftime show fallout from Janet Jackson's appearance 15 years ago. When Adam Levine took off his shirt during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIII, many noted the hypocrisy of the halftime show fallout from Janet Jackson's appearance 15 years ago. CAPTION Getting to work? Rick Scott's idea of governing in Congress seems to involve trolling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and doing lots of TV segments Getting to work? Rick Scott's idea of governing in Congress seems to involve trolling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and doing lots of TV segments CAPTION Universal Orlando gives millions in freebies to Florida legislators. Why is that OK when other public officials who take freebies are arrested on "corruption" charges? It's not. Universal Orlando gives millions in freebies to Florida legislators. Why is that OK when other public officials who take freebies are arrested on "corruption" charges? It's not.

We know, however, that when the first woman elected to the U.S. presidency takes office, now or in the future, not only will she face the unimaginable challenges of the office but, also, the extra burden of "firstness." Both gender and politics will come into play as the first female president seeks to forge consensus to forward the agenda that won the election.

I am especially sensitive to the challenges of being the first woman at the helm of an institution, having served for 14 years as the first woman president of Rollins College.

Shortly after I arrived, I learned that an administrator had said Rollins was not ready for a woman president. That led me to a continuing interest in how nontraditional candidates gain legitimacy and acceptance.

/ Rita Bornstein was the first woman president of Rollins College. She served from 1990 to 2004. Rita Bornstein was the first woman president of Rollins College. She served from 1990 to 2004. (/) (/)

Every action and utterance of a nontraditional leader is scrutinized for clues to leadership beliefs, goals and style. While the leader is working hard to do the job, make good decisions, and fulfill an agenda, constituents are looking for cultural missteps, evidence of inadequacy and lack of collegiality.

Inevitably, people tend to view the first woman in a top leadership position in any environment — corporate, nonprofit, government — through the lens of cultural expectations. Despite the considerable achievements of women leaders, most of our role models are still male.

Women new to positions of leadership often adopt attire, behavior and speech that they hope transmit authority, toughness and confidence. Ironically, dressed for success, I once was stopped in an airport terminal and asked if the plane was on time. Indignantly, I said I was not a flight attendant. Was it my blue suit and white blouse?

As the number of women leaders has increased, many women have begun to substitute a more interactive, relational and consultative leadership style in place of traditional top-down leadership. The leader has access to a more immediate information flow and opportunities to consult and to influence outcomes without diminishing presidential authority. This leadership style has proved particularly appropriate for the demands of 21st-century institutions and, as a result, is being adopted by many male leaders.

Should Hillary Clinton be elected to the presidency, there will be jokes and cartoons critical of her appearance, her clothes and her laugh. In this highly politicized environment, she will be judged on her style of leadership as well as the ideological basis of her positions.

She will be criticized for doing too much in support of women's causes and for doing too little. The opposition party is likely to impede this president's ability to develop consensus and enact her agenda, hoping to render her ineffectual.

As we celebrate those heroic women whose dedication to women's equality resulted in passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, we should remember that suffragist leaders also created the nonpartisan League of Women Voters in order to assure that the voting process is fair and accessible.

The Orange County League, the largest one-county League in the country, works to influence policy. It registers people to vote and, after studying issues, provides voters with the information needed to make informed decisions.

Women's Equality Day is a time to honor the hard work and sacrifice of our foremothers who enabled us to become voting citizens. We will also celebrate the real potential of having the first female president of the United States.

The most important action we can take to recognize the shattering of the glass ceiling is to vote.

Rita Bornstein was the first woman president of Rollins College. She served from 1990 to 2004.