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First Woman's Rights Convention
The first converging of individuals for woman's rights, 32 men and 68 women gathered to outline their grievances. They created 12 resolutions that demanded, among other equal rights, voting rights for women. -
Sufferage Associations
In May of 1869,Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton form the National Woman Suffrage Association. The NWSA fights for a constitutional amendment to gain rights,
In November of 1869, Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell form the American Woman Suffrage Association. The AWSA fights for rights through ammendments to state constitutions. -
Colorado Passes the Vote
Colorado is the first state to grant women the right to vote. Utah and Idaho do so in 1896, Washington State in 1910, California in 1911, Oregon, Kansas, and Arizona in 1912, Alaska and Illinois in 1913, Montana and Nevada in 1914, New York in 1917; Michigan, South Dakota, and Oklahoma in 1918. -
National Women's Trade Union League
National Women's Trade Union League is formed, creating a means through which women can fight for better working conditions and wages. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment, which gives universal suffrage, is signed into law. -
American Birth Control League
Marageret Sanger forms the American Birth Control League. This latter becomes Planned Parenthood, in 1949. -
Contraceptives
Information about contraceptives is now legally accessible through the mail, and is no longer considered obscene. -
Equal Pay Act
The Equal Pay Act is passed. It stops employers from paying women less than men for the same job. -
National Organization for Women
Betty Friedan forms the NAtional Organization for Women. It is currently the largest women's rights group in the U.S. -
No Fault Divorce
California becomes the first state to adopt a "o fault" divorce law, allowing couples to divorce by mutual consent and for equal division of property. -
Title Nine
:"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." -
Equal Rights Amendment
"Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." Ammendment died in 1982, after failing to recieve 38 ratifications, due largely in part to the rallying of Phyllis Schlafly. -
Pregnancy Discrimination Act
The act makes it illegal to fire a woman, or deny her a job, because of her ability to become or state of pregnancy. She can also not be forced to take pregnancy leave. -
Violence Against Women Act
VAWA creates harsher federal punishments for sex offenders, increses funds and services for victims of violence, and creates new training for police officers. -
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act
The act ends the 180 day statue of limitations from a woman's first unfair paycheck; a woman can now file a lawsuit within 180 days of any unfair/discriminatory paycheck. -
Summary
Feminism in the United States seems to be a journey that has yet to reach it's conclusion. It began with the suffragettes fighting for the right to vote, which led to the fight for contraceptive rights. In turn, this led to laws concerning marital rape and pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. Today, there is still a fight for equal pay in the workplace, abortion rights, and anti-discrimination.
