Historical Timeline of Women's Rights Progress

      To study women's rights and feminism in America and other countries, it is first important to recognize the ground-breaking progress made in the past, but to also understand the conflicts that still appear in today's society. To begin a comparison between women's struggles in the past and present, we first need to review important dates, time periods, and accomplishments that affected women. Below highlights the Women's Movement and pre-movement in American History.
     
      During the year 1769, the English system of property ownership for married women was adopted. This system declared that women could not own land or keep their financial earnings if married. 

      Organized Feminism and the Women's Movement did not fully and prominently begin until the mid 1800's. 1840 presented the supposed, "First Wave of Feminism," when an event in the Anti-Slavery movement brought question to women's rights and treatment. During an abolitionist convention in London, women were forced to sit in the balcony while men were not. The American Anti-Slavery Society, including William Lloyd Garrison, Lydia Maria Child, Maria Weston Chapman, and Lucretia Mott supported the idea of women being involved in the movement, while the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society (The Tappen Brothers) did not. 
     

Elizabeth Stanton, Carrie Catt, and Lucretia Mott were
Activists present at the Convention and were successful
in leading the Women's Rights Movement.
Photo: wikitree 

      The first women's rights convention was held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York. Activists including Elizabeth Stanton and Lucretia Mott signed the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, which demanded for equal rights for women and the right to vote. The resolves in the document were based upon the proposers' included statement of: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed," (Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions). The resolution was adopted, but more progress was made on the paper than in real life. (See: Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions)

      During 1868, the National Labor Union began pushing for equal pay between men and women, conceptualizing that women should be paid the same amount for doing the same or equivalent work as man.

      Two important events occurred in 1869: the suffrage movement split into two organizations and the first occurrence of state voting. Disagreements over the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments separated activists into The National Women's Suffrage Association and the American Women's Suffrage Association. The Wyoming Territory passed the first law in the nation to allow women 21 and older to vote, becoming the first state to do so. 

Susan B. Anthony
Photo: jimblazsik wordpress

    1872 also proved to be very eventful for in the Women's movement. Congress declared that federal employees would be given equal pay as men. It was not until 1963 that this right was extended to all female employees in the Equal Pay Act. Secondly, Victoria Chaflin Woodhull, nominated by the Equal Rights Party, was the first woman to run for President in the United States.
In this same year, Susan B. Anthony was arrested and convicted of "unlawful voting" for trying to vote to prove that the 14th amendment was not in action.

      In 1874, the Supreme Court denies women the right to vote and define women as a "special category of non-voting citizens" in response to the 14th amendment. However, states may decide individually upon female voting.

      In 1890, the National Women's Suffrage Association and the American Women's Association would merge.

      The National Association of Colored Women was organized in 1896 to promote equality for women and oppose segregation.

      In 1900, every state will have passed laws in regard to a Married Women's Property Act that allowed married women to keep their own earnings and own property. 

      The Women's Trade Union was established in 1903 to unionize working women and fight for increased wages and better working conditions.

      During 1920, the 19th Amendment, including ideas presented in the Seneca Falls convention, was ratified declaring women the right to vote. It reads, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex," (U.S. Constitution). (See: 19th Amendment) Following the Amendment ratification, during the same year, the League of Women Voters was Created to educate and encourage women about this right.

      The first equal rights amendment was introduced in 1923 by Alice Paul and the National Women's Party, which stated, "Men and Women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction." After opposition drew slowed the ratification pace until it was reintroduced in 1982, and continues to be introduced before every session of Congress. 

     

Elanor Roosevelt and John F. Kenedy
during the establishment of the
Commission on the Status of Women
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

      In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the President's Commission on the Status of Women while appointing Elanor Roosevelt as the Chairwoman.

      The Equal Pay Act became a federal law in 1963, demanding equal pay for not only women, but also those of different race, color, religion, and national origin.

      During 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act passed which attacked employment discrimination and agencies based on race and sex. (See: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964)

      In 1965, the Supreme Court legalized the use of contraceptives by married couples. The Interdepartmental Committee and the Citizen's Advisory Council on the Status of Women released a report on the Status of Women declaring that, "1965 was a banner year regarding full partnership for American women [in means of:] numerous legislation gain for women, including initial and greatly improved minimum wage laws in 11 states, equal pay enactments in seven, measures to prohibit such discrimination in employment in eight and the District of Colombia, 284 various state laws to improve the civil and political status of women, [and] greatly expanded educational opportunities for women through the 1965 federal aid-to-education laws," (Labor Law Journal).

      Civil Rights protection was extended to women in 1967 by President Lyndon B. Johnson through Executive Order.

      In 1972, Congress passed Title IX of the Education Amendments which required schools receiving federal funds to provide equal access to educational and sport programs to women. (See: Title IX of the Education Amendments)

      During 1973, the Supreme Court declared abortion rights, nullifying anti-abortion laws throughout all states. Also during this year, women are allowed to enter all branches of the U.S. military through all-volunteer forces.

      In 1978, employment discrimination against pregnant women and workers who intend to become pregnant is banned and considered to be against federal law.

President Obama signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Photo: AmericanProgress.org

      Most recently, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law in 2009, allowing workers to sue against pay discrimination with relaxed statutes on limitations of the sort.

      Among the important highlighted events in history, there have been many more liberating and astounding accomplishments in the Women's movement throughout history that were not mentioned. 

Sources:

"Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, Seneca Falls: Stanton and Anthony Papers Online." Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, Seneca Falls: Stanton and Anthony Papers Online. The State University of New Jersey. Web. 04 Oct. 2014.

"Larger Image." National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.

"Timeline: Women's Rights and Feminism (U.S.)." Timeline: Woman's Rights and Feminism (U.S.). Back to History. OSU. Web. 5 Oct. 2014.

"Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972." Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972. USA Department of Labor. Web. 04 Oct. 2014.

"Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964." Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. USA.GOV. Web. 02 Oct. 2014.

"Women's Rights Timeline." Women’s Rights TIMELINE. AnnenBerg Classroom. Web. 5 Oct. 2014.
"Progress Report On The Status Of Women For 1965." Labor Law Journal 17.6 (1966): 352. Business Source Premier. Web. 5 Oct. 2014.