Second Wave Feminism Timeline

May 9, 1960

The Food and Drug Administration approved the first oral contraceptive, commonly known as "the Pill," for sale as birth control in the United States
Dec 14, 1961

President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order establishing the President's Commission on the Status of Women.
Feb 19, 1963

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan was published.
Jun 10, 1963

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy.
Jun 16, 1963

Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in outer space, another Soviet first in the U.S.-U.S.S.R. "space race."
Jul 2, 1964

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including the Title VII prohibition of discrimination based on sex.
Jun 7, 1965

In Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court struck down a law restricting access to contraception for married couples.
Jul 2, 1965

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission began operations.
Jun 30, 1966

National Organization for Women (NOW) is established.
Period: Jun 30, 1966 to Jun 14, 1970

National Organization of Women Accomplishments

Betty Friedan's reign as president of NOW.
May 14, 1967

The EEOC holds hearings on sex discrimination in employment ads as a result of NOW’s 1966 petition.
Nov 18, 1967

NOW adopts passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), the repeal of all abortion laws, and publicly-funded child care. NOW is the first national organization to endorse the legalization of abortion.
Apr 1, 1968

NOW chapters around the country demonstrate at facilities that deny admittance or service to women, demanding equal treatment of women in all public accommodations.
Jun 17, 1968

NOW boycotts Colgate-Palmolive products, and demonstrates for five days in front of the company’s NYC headquarters, protesting company rules that kept women out of top-paying jobs with a prohibition against lifting more than 35 pounds.
Nov 5, 1968

In November, NOW member Shirley Chisholm becomes the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mar 14, 1969

NOW attorney Sylvia Roberts argues the first sex discrimination case appealed under Title VII.
May 4, 1969

NOW begins a week-long action called “Freedom for Women Week” at the White House, beginning on Mother’s Day. Demonstrators call for “Rights, Not Roses.”
Jul 14, 1969

NOW chapters work to establish women’s studies courses, beginning at universities in California and Michigan, and at Princeton.
Feb 21, 1970

20 NOW members, led by Wilma Scott Heide and Jean Witter, disrupt the Senate hearings on the 18-year-old vote to demand hearings on the Equal Rights Amendment.
May 30, 1970

NOW files a sex discrimination complaint with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance against 1,300 corporations for failing to file affirmative action plans for hiring women.
Aug 26, 1970

NOW organizes “Women’s Strike for Equality” on the 50th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, with actions in more than 90 cities and towns in 40 states. 50,000 women march on Fifth Avenue in New York.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the first oral contraceptive, commonly known as "the Pill," for sale as birth control in the United States

President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order establishing the President's Commission on the Status of Women.

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan was published.

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy.

Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in outer space, another Soviet first in the U.S.-U.S.S.R. "space race."

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including the Title VII prohibition of discrimination based on sex.

In Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court struck down a law restricting access to contraception for married couples.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission began operations.

National Organization for Women (NOW) is established.

National Organization of Women Accomplishments

The EEOC holds hearings on sex discrimination in employment ads as a result of NOW’s 1966 petition.

NOW adopts passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), the repeal of all abortion laws, and publicly-funded child care. NOW is the first national organization to endorse the legalization of abortion.

NOW chapters around the country demonstrate at facilities that deny admittance or service to women, demanding equal treatment of women in all public accommodations.

NOW boycotts Colgate-Palmolive products, and demonstrates for five days in front of the company’s NYC headquarters, protesting company rules that kept women out of top-paying jobs with a prohibition against lifting more than 35 pounds.

In November, NOW member Shirley Chisholm becomes the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

NOW attorney Sylvia Roberts argues the first sex discrimination case appealed under Title VII.

NOW begins a week-long action called “Freedom for Women Week” at the White House, beginning on Mother’s Day. Demonstrators call for “Rights, Not Roses.”

NOW chapters work to establish women’s studies courses, beginning at universities in California and Michigan, and at Princeton.

20 NOW members, led by Wilma Scott Heide and Jean Witter, disrupt the Senate hearings on the 18-year-old vote to demand hearings on the Equal Rights Amendment.

NOW files a sex discrimination complaint with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance against 1,300 corporations for failing to file affirmative action plans for hiring women.

NOW organizes “Women’s Strike for Equality” on the 50th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, with actions in more than 90 cities and towns in 40 states. 50,000 women march on Fifth Avenue in New York.