-
WTUL
The National Women's Trade Union League (WTUL) is established to advocate for improved wages and working conditions for women. They wanted to organize labor unions and eliminate sweatshop conditions. They supported many strikes in the beginning, and moved on to helping change the nation. -
Jeanette Rankin
Jeanette Rankin becomes the first female member of congress. She broke the barrier for women in the world of politics, making it easier for women in the future. -
19th Amendment
The nineteenth amendment was ratified. This gave women the right to vote. This was a reward after many years of struggles. It allowed women's voices to finally be heard. -
Contraceptives
The federal law prohibiting the dissemination of contraceptive information through the mail is modified and birth control information is no longer classified as obscene. This would effect many years to come especially during the 40's and 50's when several lawsuits concerning contraceptivestook place -
Rosie the Riveter
Rose the Riveter was first mentioned in a song by Redd Evans. Rosie, like Uncle Sam, was a symbolic figure. She was a symbol for women to take charge and start working while men were fighting in the war. This is what showed America that women could do the same things that men can. -
DOB
The Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), the first lesbian organization in the United States, is founded. Although DOB originated as a social group, it later developed into a political organization to win basic acceptance for lesbians in the United States. -
Title VII
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act bars discrimination in employment on the basis of race and sex. At the same time it establishes the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to investigate complaints and impose penalties. -
Schultz v. Wheaton
In Schultz v. Wheaton Glass Co., a U.S. Court of Appeals rules that jobs held by men and women need to be "substantially equal" but not "identical" to fall under the protection of the Equal Pay Act. An employer cannot, for example, change the job titles of women workers in order to pay them less than men. -
Meritor Savings Bank v. Vincon
Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, the Supreme Court finds that sexual harassment is a form of illegal job discrimination. Sexual harassment was no big deal to many in the work place, but today it is seen as an obscene act thanks to this case. -
Violence Against Women Act
The Violence Against Women Act tightens federal penalties for sex offenders, funds services for victims of rape and domestic violence, and provides for special training of police officers. While this act did not get rid of these terrible acts, there is no arguing that this saved many women from similar actions. -
Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education
In Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education, the Supreme Court rules that Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, also inherently prohibits disciplining someone for complaining about sex-based discrimination. It further holds that this is the case even when the person complaining is not among those being discriminated against.
