Important Events of Feminism
Before the Turn of the Century:1890- The N.A.W.S.A is formed when The National Women Suffrage Association and the American Women Suffrage Association come together.
1893- The 19th amendment was adopted in Colorado allowing women to vote, the following states also adopted it in the following order: Utah, Idaho, Washington, California, Oregon, Kansas, Arizona, Alaska, Illinois, Montana, Nevada, New York, Michigan, South Dakota, Oklahoma. 1903- W.T.U.L. is established to stand up for women so they can have improved wages and better working conditions. 1909- In New York some woman's garment workers held a strike for better wages and working conditions. Eventually over 300 shops signed the union contracts. 1913- Alice Paul and Lucy Burns formed the Congressional Union to work towards giving women the right to vote. The group was later renamed as the National Women's Party. Some of its members picket the white house and preform other acts of civil disobedience. 1916- Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in Brooklyn, New York. The clinic was shut down 10 days later and Margaret was arrested. Eventually Sanger won support through courts and she opened a new clinic in New York City in 1923. 1917- In the winter, Alice Paul and other National Woman's Party members picketed the White House. They held signs that read, "Mr. president, how long must women wait for liberty?" The woman were suffragists who wanted women to have equal rights to men, including voting. 1919- The federal woman suffrage amendment, written by Susan B. Anthony, was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. Then it was sent to the states for ratification. 1920- The Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor was created to collect information about women in the workforce and make sure women were working in good working conditions. August 26th- the 19th amendment allowed women the right to vote. 1921- Margaret Sanger established the American Birth Control league. |
After the Turn of the Century:1984- E.M.I.L.Y's list (early money is like yeast), was established as a financial network for democratic women running for office. This organization helped many women to elect to congress.
1986- The Supreme Court rules that sexual harassment at work was a form of illegal job discrimination. 1992- In the Planned Parenthood vs. Casey case, the Supreme Court supports the validity of a woman's right to an abortion. 1994- The Violence Against Women Act tightens federal charges against sex offenders, funds services that help rape victims and domestic violence victims, and provides special training for police officers. 1996- In the United States vs. Virginia case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Virginia Military School had to admit women or they would no longer recieve public funding. 1999- The Supreme Court rules that women can sue if they feel they are being discriminated if the anti-descrimination law was being violated. Women could do this even if the case was'nt especially severe. 2003- In the Nevada Department of Human Resources vs. Hibbs case the Supreme Court made it so that states can be sued in federal court for violations against the Family Leave Medical Act. 2005- The Supreme Court prohibits discrimination based on sex, and prohibits disciplining against someone for complaining about sex-based discrimination. 2006- The ban of "Partial-Birth" abortion procedure is upheld by the Supreme Court. 2009- President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act. This allowed victims of pay discrimination to file a complaint against their employer within 180 days of their last pay check. Back to Home Page |