Feminist Movement

Olympe de Gouges’ Declaration of Rights of Women (1971)

Acknowledged the emission of gender equality in the French Revolution. Gouge rewrote the Declaration, including women.

First-wave feminism (1848)

Focusing on the suffrage movement, a woman’s right to vote

15th Amendment (1870)

Allowed voting rights to former slaves, but not women

Susan B Anthony illegally votes in 1872 presidential election

Anthony was arrested for illegally voting, although she argued she had the right to under the 14th amendment

Comstock Act (1873)

Made it a federal crime to receive or distribute obscene content, including articles or instruments used for abortion or contraception.

WWI (1914)

Conflict between the Allies and Central Powers, millions of women entered the workforce to replace the men fighting

Jeanette Rankin elected (1916)

First woman elected in the federal office, advocated for women’s suffrage all through her life. Passed the 19th amendment.

19th Amendment (1919)

prohibits the federal government and all states from denying an individual the ability to vote based on sex

Birth Control League founded (1921)

by Margaret Sanger, later to be called Planned Parenthood. It offered information and education regarding contraception and birth control

The Great Depression (1929)

reinforced ideas that women’s place is in the home, as focus shifted from feminism to an economic crisis

WWII (1939)

women stepped into male-dominated occupations once more

1950s, Post War

Marriage rates increased as women were expected to fall back into domesticity. Baby boom. As sex was expected during marriage, women began to seek out contraception to gain bodily autonomy.

FDA Approval of “the Pill” (1960)

passed by FDA due to meeting the law’s safety requirements of a contraceptive. provided a practical, biological way to control family sizing.

Estelle Griswold arrested (1961)

for distributing and using contraception, violating Connecticut’s state law. Planned Parenthood which distributed to married couples was shut down.

Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique (1963)

feminist literature, shifting the weight of women’s dissatisfaction with domesticity onto systemic oppression and pressures, coined “the problem with no name.”

Equality Pay Act passed (1963)

prohibited wage discrimination based on sex when work is equal. if a violation is found, the lower wage must be raised to meet the higher.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

outlawed discrimination and segregation based on sex, race, color, religion, or national origin.

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

Supreme court sided with Griswold, thus granting a constitutional right to privacy regarding contraception.

Rolling Stones’ “Mother’s Little Helper” (1966)

rock track which addresses the dissatisfaction of suburban women under the expectation to be the perfect house wife. criticizes how women must rely on drugs rather than actual support to combat this

NYC Women’s Strike for Equality (1970)

marked the 50th anniversary of the 19th amendment. Organized by Betty Friedan and NOW. demanded free abortion, free 24 hour childcare services, equal opportunity in workforce & education.