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Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia
The convention is held in order to address the faults of the Articles of Confederation. Here the delegates of the states met and proposed suggestions on how to fix the issues. The results of the convention build the very government system we have. -
United States Constitution is ratified
The terms “persons,” “people” and “electors” are used, allowing the interpretation of those beings to include men and women. Although at the time women's were more or less bound to their husband, meaning they had little to none. Regardless, the constitution laid down the early foundations for the laws we know today, where women do have more rights. -
Title VII is passed
This bars employment discrimination by private employers, employment agencies and unions based on race, sex, and
other grounds. It is enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Although this not the first legal accomplishment regarding women, it is one of the biggest wins, opening many doors for women. This then also lead to guidelines defining sexual
harassment as illegal sex-based discrimination in 1980. -
Abortion is criminalized
(Unfortunately I could not find a correct date besides the year.) Abortion is classified a felony in 49 states and Washington D.C. Dr. Leon Belous is convicted for referring a woman to an illegal abortionist, which plays a large role in a California legal case regarding abortion, two years later. But in the same year, Colorado comes the first state to legalize abortion. -
Roe v. Wade
Abortion is now legal throughout the states, although states can put certain limitations on it, they can not ban it completely. This case recognized that the constitutional right to privacy extends to a woman’s right to make her own personal medical decisions. Although to this day it is still encompassed by great controversy and comes up in every election. It is also still used in other cases such as Planned Parenthood v. Casey. -
First woman on the Supreme Court.
(Although this technically is not a constitutional/legal event, it is important for those events.) On this day Sandra Day O'Connor becomes the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court. This revolutionary because for the first time a woman's opinion is truly factored into the federal legal process. This can be seen by the fact that she upheld Roe v. Wade, recognized LGBT as a constitutionally-protected class, etc. -
Supreme Court involvement regarding same-sex marrige
As of January 6th 2014, the supreme court becames more involved in the battle for marriage equality. This includes striking down bans and blocking requests to stop same-sex marriage. A few days later, the Obama administration announces that the federal government will recognize the marriages of the 1,300 same-sex couples in Utah unlike the state goverment. Allowing them to receive spousal benefits, like health insurance for federal employees and filing joint federal income tax returns. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled, 5–4 that same-sex couples have the fundamental right to marry and regardless the states' opinions/opposition. Justice Anthony Kennedy: "Under the Constitution, same-sex couples seek in marriage the same legal treatment as opposite-sex couples, and it would disparage their choices and diminish their personhood to deny them this right," -
Donald Trump is elected as president
As a controversial election comes to an end, Donald Trump is elected as the 45th president of the states. Shortly after taking office, his administration stands in stark contrasts to Obama, party differences aside. After unleashing a few executive orders, it's somewhat unclear how his four years will affect women, but many are fearful. -
World Wide Women's March
In fear of losing their rights and oppression, women all over the world took to the streets to voice their opinions regarding the new president of the United States, men marched in solidarity as well. The republican party is a threat to women's reproductive rights, therefore during the march there was a lot of "our body, our choice" chants. Along with that, there is worry that Trump and his administration with affect LGBTQA+ rights as well as POCs and immigrants, all which are also women issues.
