Civic Issues Check in - Women's Rights Movement

Early Beginnings

● Seneca Falls Convention (1848):

● Event: First women's rights convention held in Seneca Falls, New York.
● Declaration of Sentiments: Modeled after the Declaration of
Independence, it called for equal rights for women, including the right to
vote.
● Key Figures: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott.

Suffrage Movement

● National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA):

● Founders: Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
● Goal: Achieve women's suffrage through a federal constitutional
amendment.
● American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA):
● Founders: Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell.
● Goal: Achieve women's suffrage through state-level campaigns.
● 19th Amendment (1920):
● Content: Granted women the right to vote.
● Impact: Culmination of decades of activism by suffragists.

Mid-20th Century and Second Wave Feminism

● World War II:

● Impact: Women entered the workforce in large numbers, challenging
traditional gender roles.
● The Feminine Mystique (1963):
● Author: Betty Friedan.
● Impact: Sparked the second wave of feminism by addressing the
dissatisfaction of many suburban housewives.
● National Organization for Women (NOW) (1966):
● Founders: Betty Friedan and others.
● Goals: Advocate for equality in employment, education, and reproductive
rights.
Key Legislation and Legal Cases

● Equal Pay Act (1963):

● Content: Prohibits wage discrimination based on gender.
● Civil Rights Act (Title VII) (1964):
● Content: Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin.
● Roe v. Wade (1973):
● Decision: Recognized a woman's right to choose an abortion under the
right to privacy.
● Title IX (1972):
● Content: Prohibits gender discrimination in any education program or
activity receiving federal financial assistance.
● Equal Rights Amendment (ERA):
● Proposed Amendment: Seeks to guarantee equal legal rights for all
American citizens regardless of sex.
● Current Status: Passed by Congress in 1972 but has not been ratified by
enough states to become part of the Constitution.

Modern Women's Rights Issues

● Reproductive Rights:
● Ongoing debates over access to contraception and abortion services.
● Challenges to Roe v. Wade and state-level restrictions.
● Workplace Equality:
● Efforts to close the gender pay gap.
● Combating workplace harassment and discrimination.
● Political Representation:
● Increasing the number of women in elected and appointed positions.
● Supporting women candidates through organizations like EMILY's List.
● #MeToo Movement:
● Addressing sexual harassment and assault.
● Raising awareness and seeking justice for survivors.

Key Figures

● Susan B. Anthony: Leader in the women's suffrage movement, co-founder of the

NWSA.
● Elizabeth Cady Stanton: Organizer of the Seneca Falls Convention, co-author of
the Declaration of Sentiments.
● Sojourner Truth: Abolitionist and women's rights activist, famous for her "Ain't I a
Woman?" speech.
● Betty Friedan: Author of "The Feminine Mystique," co-founder of NOW.
 ● Gloria Steinem: Journalist, political activist, and leader in the second-wave
feminist movement.
● Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Supreme Court Justice known for her work on gender
equality and women's rights.

Importance and Impact

● Legal and Social Reforms: Significant progress in gender equality in education,

employment, and reproductive rights.
● Ongoing Struggles: Continued advocacy for equal rights and addressing
persistent inequalities and societal challenges.