-
The Equal RightsAmendment
1945: Millions of women lose their jobs when servicemen return from World War II, though surveys show 80 percent want to keep working. -
1960
1960: The Food and Drug Administration approves birth control pills. -
1963: Congress passes the Equal Pay Act,
promising equitable wages for the same work regardless of sex, race, religion or national origin. -
1965
1965: In Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court overturns one of the last state laws prohibiting the prescription or use of contraceptives by married couples. -
Period: to
The Equal Right Amendment
Title IX of the Education Amendments bans sex discrimination in
schools that receive federal support. The number of women in athletic
programs and professional schools increases drastically. The Equal Rights Amendment, which now reads, "Equality of rights under
the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any
State on account of sex," is passed by Congress and sent to the states
for ratification. The amendment dies in 1982 when it fails to achieve
ratification by a minimum -
Period: to
The Supreme Court and the Congress
Congress passes the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, prohibiting
employment discrimination against pregnant women. 1981: The Supreme Court rules that excluding women from the draft is
constitutional. In Kirchberg v. Feenstra, the Supreme Court overturns state laws
designating a husband "head and master" with unilateral control of
property owned jointly with his wife. 1993: The Family and Medical Leave Act goes into effect, allowing
female workers to take employment leave after giving birth. -
1994
The Violence Against Women Act funds services for victims of
rape and domestic violence, allows women to seek civil rights remedies
for gender-related crimes, and provides training to increase police
and court officials' sensitivity and a national 24-hour hot line for
battered women. The National Organization for Women called it "the
greatest breakthrough in civil rights for women in nearly two
decades." -
1995
Shannon Faulkner is the first woman to attend The Citadel in its
152-year history. She sued the all-male, state-supported school and
was admitted under court order. In 1996, the Supreme Court ruled that
the all-male policy at the Virginia Military Institute, also a
state-funded military college, was unconstitutional. After that, The
Citadel's board voted to open its doors to women, and four women
enrolled in 1996. -
Obama
President Barack Obama signs the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay
Restoration Act, which allows victims of pay discrimination to file a
complaint with the government against their employer within 180 days
of their last paycheck. Previously, victims were allowed only 180 days
from the date of the first unfair paycheck. The act is named after a
former employee of Goodyear, who was paid 15 percent-40 percent less
than her male counterparts, who won't benefit from the legislation.
She said the reward is that -
1964
1964: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act passes, prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion or national origin. -
1973
In Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, the Supreme Court declares
that the Constitution protects women's right to terminate an early
pregnancy, thus making abortion legal. -
1976
The first marital rape law passes in Nebraska, making it illegal
for a husband to rape his wife.
