FDA approves the first commercially produced birth control pill in the world.
President JFK signs into law the Equal Pay Act
President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act into law; Title VII bans employment discrimination based on race, religion, national origin or sex.
Executive Order 11246 prohibits sex discrimination by govt contractors and requires affirmative action plans for hiring women
Weeks v. Southern Bell opens the door to many previously male-only jobs to women
SCOTUS outlaws the practice of private employers refusing to hire women with pre-school children.
President Nixon signs Title IX of the Education Amendments into law.
SCOTUS declares that the Constitution protects a woman's legal right to an abortion in Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court bans sex-segregated "help wanted" advertising
In the "The Battle of the Sexes,: Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs during an exhibition match.
Cleveland Board of Education v LaFleur determines it is illegal to force pregnant women to take maternity leave on the assumption that they are incapable of working in their physical condition.
SCOTUS overturns state laws designating a husband "head and master" with unilateral control of property owned jointly with his wife
Sandra Day O'Connor is sworn in by President Reagan as the first woman to serve on the US Supreme Court.
Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.
Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale names Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate, making her the first woman VP nominee by a major party.
SCOTUS held that a hostile or abusive work environment can prove discrimination based on sex.
Janet Reno becomes the first female attorney general of the United States.
President Clinton signs the Violence Against Women Act as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act.
Madeleine Albright is sworn in as the nation's first female secretary of state.
Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female speaker of the House.
The US military removes a ban against women serving in combat positions
Hilary Clinton becomes the first woman to receive a presidential nomination from a major political party.
Kamala Harris is sworn in as the first woman and first woman of color VP of the US.