Fighting for equality

Report on women in the workplace 1963

Women earned around 60% less than men. 95% of managers were male. Most work for women was part-time. Only 4% of lawyers and 7% of doctors were women. Women could legally be dismissed if they are married

Equal Pay Act

A 1963 law that made women and men receive equal pay for the same job

1964 Civil Rights Act

Banned discrimination based on race and sex in employment

National Organisation for Women (NOW)

Demanded complete equal rights for women in US law. Abortion was illegal in all US states and NOW stated that it was a woman’s right to make her own reproductive decisions. Had around 40 000 members. Wrote to politicians, organised large demonstrations, took companies to court that failed to pay men and women the same wages

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Stated that equality of rights under the law should not be denied by the United States or by any state on account of sex

Stop ERA

A campaign led by Phyllis Schafly opposed the change. Schafly argued that ERA would lead to women in combat, greater abortion rates, unisex bathrooms and homosexual marriages. The campaign was successful - the ERA failed to become part of the US constitution because not enough sates voted for it

Roe v Wade Case

A case in 1973. The campaign to legalise abortion was a key feminist. Lawyers argued successfully that 21-year-old Jane Roe had the right to an abortion. She already had two children, who had to be put up for adoption. 1973 : the Supreme Court ruled that women in all states had the right to safe and legal abortion