-
Period: to
Women's History Throughout the Years
-
Women in the Early 1800s
Women in the early 1800s had no rights whatsoever, they were in charge of taking care of the hoursehold and giving a good impression to society in order to maintain their husbands' social status. They were not allowed to have an education, own land, or have any voice in politics or economics. In general, women had no voice in society. -
The American Female Reform Society
The society continued Rev. John R. McDowell's work as he tried to take up the mission of reforming the licentious women in NY City. He wanted to mobilize public opinion against those who patrionized and those who were economically benefitting from the practice.This showed emphasis from reclaiming fallen women to shaping public opinion. -
The Female Labor Association
Sarah Bagley founded the association in Lowell, Massachusetts. They dedicated themselves to the advocacy of the ten-hour workday, The operatives' primary argument focused on the need for time to hone their physical, spiritual, intellectual, and moral development with typical workdays of 11-13 hours. -
Seneca Falls Convention
First women's rights convention is held in Seneca Falls, NY by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Discussions range from the reforming marriage and property laws to a woman’s right to vote. In the end, 68 women and 32 men sign the "Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions" calling for equal treatment of women and men under law, and voting rights for women. -
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
Stanton and Anthony appeared at the NY State legislature with a petition signed by 6,000 individuals, petitioning for the right of women to control their own earnings, the guardianship of their children in the event of a divorce, and the right to vote. Stanton also pointed out that the laws taxed an unmarried woman's earnings while denying her representation in government, a case of "no taxation without representation". -
Women's National Loyal League
Stanton and Anthony formed this organization that sought to end the American Civil War through an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that abolished slavery. They organized a Mammoth Petition that urged Congress to emancipate all slaves. They claimed some 5,000 members, many of whom were suffragists who had suspended work on women suffrage to concentrate on the war effort. Widely praised for its work, the group collected some 400,000 signatures. -
National Woman Suffrage Association
Stanton and Anthony opposed the ratification of the 15th Amendment because it omitted any mention of voting rights for women. The alliance between feminists and abolitionists disintegrated. Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell found the American Woman Suffrage Association in support of the 15th Amendment -
National Consumers' League
The league was chartered by two of America's leading social reformers Jane Adams and Josephine Lowell. These two women were pioneers in achieving many social reforms in communities and workplaces across the country. Under the direction of its first general secretary, Florence Kelley, the National Consumers' League exposed child labor and other scandalous working conditions, like minimum wage laws for women. -
The National Association of Colored Women
Black women organized a club movement that led to the formation of the association in Washington, D.C., in response to an attack on the character of African-American women by a Southern journalist, combined with the spread of disfranchisement, lynching, and segregation, and the desire to "uplift" the race. Founders' were some of the most renowned African-American women educators, community leaders, and civil-rights activists in America, like: Harriet Tubman, Frances E.W. Harper, etc. -
The Women's Trade Union League
Since factory women faced terrible working conditions and low wages they created this partnership league in Boston between middle-class reformers and working-class women to raise wages and improve working conditions. In the early 20th century, it focused on unionizing women workers and supporting women’s strikes. -
National Women's Party (Congressional Union)
Alice Paul formed the Congressional Union of Women's Suffrage, later became the National Women's Party, in order to put pressure on the Democratic Party to secure the right for women's suffrage. Women began organizing huge demonstrations and picketing the White House under banners using the slogans of "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". -
19th Amendment
It guaranteed all American women the right to vote. Their right to vote should not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any Sate on account of sex , and Congress should not have the power to enforce this article by appropiate legislation. -
"Rosie the Riveter"
When men left for WWII, women had to take over the workfroce needed to build the tools of war. "Rosie the Riveter" was a compilation of different efforts by private industry and government to get more people involved in the war effort. After the war, many women returned to their domestic roles in the home but many remained working while their husbands went back to school under the G.I. Bill. After the war, females never returned to their lower pre-war levels. -
Equal Pay Act
The act prohibited sex-based wage discrimination between men and women in the same establishment who perform jobs that require substantially equal skill, effort and responsibility under similar working conditions.The act also stated that no labor organization, or its agents, representing employees of an employer having employees subject to any provisions shall cause or attempt to cause such an employer to discriminate against an employee in violation of the act. -
The Civil Rights Act and the EEOC
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act bans discrimination in employment on the basis of race and sex. At the same time the Act establishes the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to investigate complaints and impose penalties on sex discrimination. -
National Organization for Women
This organization, also known as NOW, takes action to bring equality for all women. NOW works to eliminate discrimination and harassment in the workplace, schools, the justice system, and all other sectors of society; secure abortion, birth control and reproductive rights for all women; end all forms of violence against women; eradicate racism, sexism and homophobia; and promote equality and justice in our society. -
Equal Rights Amendment
Congress approved the amendment that affirmed the equal application of the Constitution to all citizens, but fails to be ratified by the required number of states. It stated: "Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction." -
Pregnancy and Discrimination Act
The act prohibits discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. It is an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII also applies to employment agencies and to labor organizations, as well as to the federal government. Women who are pregnant or affected by pregnancy-related conditions must be treated in the same manner as other applicants or employees with similar abilities or limitations. -
Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Janet Reno
President Clinton appoints Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a feminist activist and former attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), to the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. President Bill Clinton also appoints Janet Reno in 1993 to serve as the first woman U.S. Attorney General. -
Madeleine K. Albright
Nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1997, Madeleine K. Albright becomes first woman U.S. Secretary of State. Before that, she served as U.N. Ambassador. She was not eligible as Presidential Successor and was excluded from nuclear contingency plans because she was foreign-born. She became a U.S. citizen in 1957. -
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act
Supreme Court upholds the ban on the "partial-birth" abortion procedure, Justice Anthony Kennedy said, "The act expresses respect for the dignity of human life". Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who dissents, called the decision "alarming" and said it is "so at odds with our jurisprudence" that it "should not have staying power". -
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice becomes the first African-American woman appointed Secretary of State. Forbes magazine ranks Condoleezza Rice as the most powerful woman in the world in 2004 and 2005.
