Peace movement – Striving for legal equality is a common goal of social movements. Social or civil movements do not have a vision of gaining power in political systems, and their goals are focused on creating change in relationships and, in a way, creating reform in the cultural, political, and social processes of a society. Examining the history of social struggles shows that the common goal of these movements in all countries of the world, despite differences in their methods of struggle, is evident. By examining the history of the women’s movement in different countries, we realize that human rights and the fight for gender equality is a global and humanitarian struggle; a struggle that, due to its diversity, pursues a common goal. The women’s movement in America is an example of struggles that some aspects of it can serve as a model for women’s movement activists in other countries.

The pursuit of equal rights for women, known as the “women’s movement” or “feminism”, took shape in the 19th and 20th centuries in America and reached its peak.

Looking at the history of the women’s movement in America, the beginning of women’s activism to eliminate discrimination in legal and social areas emerged from other social movements such as the “abolitionist movement” and the “temperance movement”. These movements, in which women were actively involved, put them in a contradictory situation due to their unequal position within them, and this was the basis for the formation of a collective identity for them.

Perhaps the first spark for organizing independent women can be considered the Anti-Slavery Conference in London in 1840, where women were not allowed to attend and ultimately in July 1848, with the publication of the announcement of the Women’s Convention in Seneca Falls, which was one of the first women’s conventions based on their interests, was formed. In this convention, the historical oppression of women and the necessity of having equal rights with men in social, political, economic, and other areas were emphasized. After the Seneca Falls convention, multiple conventions were formed to emphasize women’s rights and some came to the conclusion that women should enter politics and attend congress.

With the beginning of the civil war between the northern and southern states of America, women’s social activities reached their highest level and the “Central Women’s Relief Society”, led by a woman, was also formed.

Perhaps the most remarkable part of the history of women’s struggles in the first wave of feminism (the first wave of the women’s movement) in America is the suffrage movement. During this time, two separate organizations were formed to support women’s rights with different strategies: 1- The American Women’s Suffrage Association 2- The National Women’s Suffrage Association, which merged in 1890 with the main goal of gaining suffrage and after years of struggle, finally in 1920 the 19th amendment to the Constitution was passed, granting women the right to vote in all states. After achieving suffrage, the women’s movement went through a period of stagnation until, after almost forty years, in 1960 it began a new form of struggle that continues with the second wave of feminism in America.

The National Organization for Women (NOW) was the first, largest, and most well-known women’s organization formed in America in 1966. This organization is typically recognized as the main representative of the liberal second-wave feminist movement. Originally, the organization was formed by three streams: women who were members of state and federal commissions on the status of women, women who, under the leadership of Betty Friedan, questioned the current status of women and advocated for the organization to be formed within this framework, and women’s rights advocates on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, particularly Martha Griffiths, a representative in Congress who defended the enforcement of the provision on gender equality in the Civil Rights Act.

This organization was formed in mid-1966 by a group of women, including Betty Friedan and Mary Pauley. In late 1966, Betty Friedan was chosen as the president of this organization and Kay Clarenbach was chosen as the chair of the board of directors.

Betty Friedan (1966-1970), Aileen Hernandez (1970-1971), Wilma Scott (1971-1974), Karen DeCrow (1974-1977), Eleanor Smeal (1977-1982 and 1985-1987), Judy Goldsmith (1982-1985), Molly Yard (1987-1991), Patricia Ireland (1991-2001), and Kim Gandy (2001-2009) have been the leaders of the National Organization for Women between the years 1966 and 2009.

This organization pursued six goals in its first year of activity: equal employment opportunities, political and legal rights, education and schooling, women in poverty, examination of images of women in textbooks and magazines, and women and religion.

Women in this organization were active in various areas such as supporting women in legal cases, advocating for issues related to discrimination against women, issues related to fertility and the right to abortion, and establishing childcare centers and similar initiatives.

Some members of the National Women’s Organization formed smaller legal groups that had specific and distinct activities. The Women’s Legal Defense Fund in Washington, the Women’s Coalition Institute in New York, opportunities for women in Washington D.C., the Women’s Lobby Group, United Women, and others.

Women from various ways joined this organization and other liberal feminist groups, but these women were not necessarily feminist in a specific sense and only wanted to find a way to solve these conflicts through joining the movement and becoming aware of the existing discrimination in their social roles. Considering that the liberal faction is primarily seeking to reform the social and cultural system through activities within the system, especially through creating legal or practical changes, most of their activities were within institutions or putting pressure on them from the outside. Perhaps the activities of this reformist organization can be titled as follows:

1- Exertion of influence and pressure on government institutions and private organizations.

2- Legal and judicial follow-up

3- Holding demonstrations, rallies, and conferences.

In 1971, with the help of Betty Friedan, the National Women’s Political Caucus was founded in Washington. This organization is the most important political organization for women and includes not only Democratic and Republican women, but also non-partisan and even anti-party women. Its main goal is to create unity among women in order to increase their participation in various areas of political life and to shape a new center of political power in American society.

Nowadays, in addition to emphasizing traditional demands that some of them have been rejected over time, this organization continues its struggle by recruiting members, informing about topics such as women’s bodies, and holding conferences. By visiting the information website of this organization, one can become more familiar with its performance, conference dates, and content.

Aida’s eyebrows are thick.

Women’s rights activist

Resources

1- Mashirzadeh, Hamira, From Movement to Social Theories, A History of Two Centuries of Feminism, Shirzah Publishing, First Edition, Tehran 1388.

2- National Women’s Organization website (now.org)