In the following essay I will try to examine the role and importance of the National Organization for Women in the Women’s Liberation Movement as well as their long-running fight for the Equal Rights Amendment.
Terms such as Great Society, Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Liberation, Youth Counterculture, New Left, Rock ´n´ Roll, Woodstock, the landing on the moon, etc. characterize the turbulent Sixties.
The Sixties are often described as the “decade of discontent” but also as the “decade of peace, love and harmony”. A major aspect of the 1960s was the revival of the feminist movement. In 1966 the National Organization for Women was founded, which grew to the largest organization of feminist activist in the United States and had a big influence on the development of the status of women.
In the following essay I will try to examine the role and importance of the National Organization for Women in the Women’s Liberation Movement as well as their long-running fight for the Equal Rights Amendment.
In Part I, I will deal with the National Organization for Women in general. I will take a look at the history of the organization and at their goals and actions.
Their long-winded fight for the so-called Equal Rights Amendment will be examined in Part II. I will try to explore the history behind the ERA and then primarily focus on the ratification process in the second half of the twentieth century. In the conclusion I will finally try to summarize the most important results.
The new feminist movement of the 1960s was split into two types of feminist groups: a formal and an informal branch. The formal branch included the National Organization for Women (NOW), the Women’s Equity Action League (WEAL) as well as the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC) whereas the informal branch included so called consciousness-raising groups. The latter tried to attack sexism and discrimination in everyday life. The formal branch worked for changes in legislation and tried to enforce equal rights laws, “[…] such as the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 banning sex discrimination, and Title IX of the Higher Education Acts of 1969 and 1972, which prohibited sex discrimination in such matters as school sports programs.” (Giele: 1995, S. 169)
The National Organization for Woman (NOW) was founded on June 30, 1966 in Washington, D.C. by reformers such as union activists, members of state commissions on the status of women or professional women.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Part I: The National Organization for Women
- The history of the NOW
- The goals and actions of the NOW
- Part II: The ERA
- The history behind the ERA
- The desire for equal rights
- Proponents versus opponents
- The fight for the ERA and the results
- Why ERA failed
- Recent work on the ERA
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the role and importance of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in the Women's Liberation Movement and its fight for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). It explores the history and goals of NOW, analyzing its actions and impact. The essay also investigates the history and ratification process of the ERA, highlighting the key players and conflicts involved.
- The history and development of the National Organization for Women (NOW).
- The goals and strategies employed by NOW to achieve women's equality.
- The historical context of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
- The political battles surrounding the ERA's ratification.
- The reasons behind the ERA's failure to be ratified and its lasting impact.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introduction sets the stage by characterizing the 1960s as a turbulent decade marked by social and political upheaval. It highlights the revival of the feminist movement and introduces the National Organization for Women (NOW) as a key player in this revival. The essay's objectives are clearly stated: to examine NOW's role in the Women's Liberation Movement and its protracted fight for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The structure of the essay—a division into two parts focusing on NOW and the ERA, respectively—is also outlined.
Part I: The National Organization for Women: This section provides a detailed overview of the National Organization for Women (NOW). It begins by discussing the dual nature of the 1960s feminist movement, distinguishing between formal organizations like NOW, WEAL, and NWPC, and informal consciousness-raising groups. The founding of NOW in 1966 is explored, highlighting the contributing factors, including the government's failure to enforce the Civil Rights Act's provisions against sex discrimination and the lack of organized representation for women's interests. The significant role of Betty Friedan and the organization's substantial growth are also emphasized. The section concludes by explaining the organization's evolving political influence and internal conflicts.
Part II: The ERA: This section delves into the history and context of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), focusing on the forces that drove its proposal and the subsequent struggles for its ratification. It examines the political landscape of the time, highlighting the diverse viewpoints and conflicting interests that shaped the debate. The section also likely details the efforts made by proponents of the ERA and the opposition they faced. The complex interplay of social, political, and ideological factors that contributed to the ERA's ultimate failure will be discussed.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
National Organization for Women (NOW), Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), Women's Liberation Movement, Feminism, Sex Discrimination, Civil Rights, Political Activism, Legislative Reform, Gender Equality.
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This text provides a comprehensive preview of an essay examining the National Organization for Women (NOW) and its role in the Women's Liberation Movement, focusing specifically on its involvement in the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
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The preview includes the essay's title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It offers a detailed overview of NOW's history, goals, and actions, as well as a thorough examination of the ERA's history, the political battles surrounding its ratification, and the reasons for its failure.
What is the structure of the essay?
The essay is divided into two main parts. Part I focuses on the National Organization for Women (NOW), covering its history, goals, strategies, and impact. Part II centers on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), detailing its history, the political struggles surrounding its ratification, and the reasons for its ultimate failure. The essay also includes an introduction and a conclusion.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
Key themes include the history and development of NOW, NOW's strategies for achieving women's equality, the historical context of the ERA, the political battles surrounding the ERA's ratification, and the reasons behind the ERA's failure and its lasting impact.
What are the key players and conflicts mentioned in the essay preview?
The preview mentions Betty Friedan as a significant figure in the founding of NOW. It also highlights the conflicts between proponents and opponents of the ERA, and the diverse viewpoints and conflicting interests that shaped the debate surrounding its ratification.
What is the significance of the 1960s in the context of this essay?
The 1960s are characterized as a turbulent decade marked by social and political upheaval, witnessing a revival of the feminist movement and the emergence of organizations like NOW as key players in advocating for women's rights.
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The purpose is to provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of the essay's content, allowing readers to understand the scope and focus of the research before engaging with the full text. It serves as a roadmap to the essay's arguments and findings.
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Keywords include National Organization for Women (NOW), Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), Women's Liberation Movement, Feminism, Sex Discrimination, Civil Rights, Political Activism, Legislative Reform, and Gender Equality.
- Quote paper
- Jacqueline Herrmann (Author), 2004, The National Organization for Women and the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/86905
