aug 26, 1970 - Women's Strike
for Equality
Description:
By 1970, NOW had approximately 40,000 members and worked on campaigns with a wide range of other groups, such as the National Women’s Caucus and the Women's Campaign Fund
NOW used a variety of tactics to try and bring about change, including protest marches, strikes, petitions, lobbying politicians and taking legal action
Between 1966 and 1971, NOW helped in a series of disputes about unequal pay and won $30 million in back pay for women
On 26th August 1970, NOW organised the Women’s Strike for Equality, of which thousands of women across the US went on strike to draw attention to unequal pay and discrimination in the workplace
The largest protest was a march down New York’s Fifth Avenue in which an estimated 50,000 people took part
In February 1970, members of NOW disrupted the Senate during a debate and displayed posters and boards calling for the Equal Rights Amendment to be discussed and passed
HOWEVER, THEY ATTRACTED A LOT OF CRITICS
For some, it was too radical, particularly because of its support for the Equal Rights Amendment and abortion, whereas for others it was not radical enough
Moreover, NOW’s supporters were mostly middle or upper class and well educated
Some argued that it did little to improve the lives of poor women
NOW was a moderate group within the women’s movement - it wanted huge changes but within society as it was, with family units and marriage
Added to timeline:
USA 1945 - 1974
Date:
