National Organization for Women Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
National Organization for Women

Abbreviation	NOW
Formation	June 30, 1966; 58 years ago (1966-06-30)
Founders	Betty Friedan Pauli Murray and 47 other people
Type	501(c)(4), charitable organization
Focus	Women's rights, feminism, Equal Rights Amendment, civil rights, LGBT rights, reproductive rights
Headquarters	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Membership (21st century)	500,000
Key people	Christian Nunes, President Bear Atwood, Vice-President
Website	www.NOW.org
Remarks	"Taking Action for Women's Equality Since 1966"

The National Organization for Women (NOW) is a big group in the United States that works for women's rights. It was started in 1966. NOW is one of the largest groups fighting for women's equality in the U.S. It has about 500,000 members.

NOW works to make sure everyone has equal chances. This includes fair treatment in jobs and equal pay. They also support rights for all people, no matter their gender or background. They work to stop violence against women too.

History of NOW
NOW's Activism
What NOW Focuses On Today
NOW's Main Goal
NOW's Publications
Leaders of NOW
See also

History of NOW

How NOW Started

Many things led to the creation of NOW. One important event was a group set up by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. This group, called the President's Commission on the Status of Women, looked into problems women faced. They wanted to find ways to stop unfair treatment in schools and jobs.

Another big influence was a book by Betty Friedan called The Feminine Mystique. This book, published in 1963, talked about how many women felt unhappy. They wanted more from life than just being homemakers. The book helped start a new wave of the women's rights movement.

Also, a law called the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. This law made it illegal to treat people unfairly because of their gender. But many people felt this law was not being used properly.

Founding the Organization

NOW was officially started in 1966. About 49 people, both women and men, helped create it. Many of them were frustrated because the government was not enforcing new laws against unfair treatment.

They saw that women were still being paid less than men for the same work. They also faced problems getting certain jobs. The founders wanted a strong group to push for real change. They wanted to make sure women had full equality and freedom to choose their lives.

NOW founder and president Betty Friedan (center) with lobbyist Barbara Ireton (left) and attorney Marguerite Rawalt (right).

Betty Friedan and Pauli Murray wrote NOW's first mission statement in 1966. This statement said it was time to act. It called for women to have the same chances and freedoms as everyone else. NOW was also one of the first women's groups to include the concerns of Black women.

In 1968, NOW created a "Bill of Rights." This list asked for many things. It included equal pay, paid time off for new parents, and help with childcare. It also called for equal education and job training. A very important goal was the right for women to make choices about their own bodies.

Supporting LGBTQIA+ Rights

NOW has also worked to support the rights of LGBTQIA+ people. In 1969, Ivy Bottini, who was openly lesbian, designed the NOW logo. This logo is still used today.

At first, some leaders in NOW were unsure about including lesbian issues. But over time, NOW became a strong supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights. In 1971, NOW stated that women have the right to choose their own way of life. They also offered legal help to lesbian mothers who were fighting for their children.

NOW's Activism

Fighting Unfair Treatment

NOW has helped women get equal access to public places. For example, in 1969, Betty Friedan and other NOW members protested at a restaurant called the Oak Room. This restaurant only allowed men for lunch. After the protest, women were allowed in.

NOW also helped women get into McSorley's Old Ale House. This bar did not allow women until 1970. NOW lawyers Faith Seidenberg and Karen DeCrow sued the bar and won. This ruling made it clear that public places cannot treat people unfairly.

In 1972, a NOW member named Carole De Saram led a protest against banks. She encouraged women to take their money out of a bank that was unfair to women. These actions helped lead to a law in 1974 called the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. This law made it illegal to deny credit based on gender.

Working for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

A very important goal for NOW was the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). This amendment aimed to make sure that rights under the law could not be denied because of a person's gender.

The ERA had three main parts:

Section 1: Everyone has equal rights under the law, no matter their gender.
Section 2: Congress can make laws to enforce this.
Section 3: This amendment will start two years after it is approved.

Congress passed the ERA in 1972. But for it to become part of the U.S. Constitution, 38 out of 50 states needed to approve it. NOW worked hard to get states to ratify the ERA. They organized marches and encouraged people to boycott states that did not support it.

However, some groups were against the ERA. They argued that it would take away special protections for women. Even though the ERA was not fully ratified, NOW still works to support it and other feminist issues today.

Women's Strike for Equality

On August 26, 1970, NOW organized a big event called the Women's Strike for Equality. This day was special because it was 50 years after women got the right to vote. Thousands of women marched in cities across the country.

The strike called for things like childcare centers and equal chances in jobs and education. It also pushed for the Equal Rights Amendment. The event was a big success. After the strike, many more people joined NOW. It also made more people aware of the women's rights movement.

What NOW Focuses On Today

NOW continues to work on several key issues:

Constitutional Equality: They support the Equal Rights Amendment to give women clear protections in the U.S. Constitution.
Economic Justice: They fight for fair pay, good jobs, and financial fairness for all women.
Racial Justice: NOW works for equal opportunities for women of color in all parts of society, like jobs, education, and health care.
LGBTQIA+ Rights: They support the rights of all LGBTQIA+ people.
Ending Violence Against Women: They work to stop violence and support victims.

NOW's Main Goal

The main goal of NOW, as written by Betty Friedan and Pauli Murray in 1966, is "to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men." This means they want women to be fully involved in society, with the same rights and duties as men.

NOW's Publications

Since 1970, NOW has published a national newsletter. It was first called Do It NOW. From 1977, it has been known as the National NOW Times.

Leaders of NOW

Here are the women who have served as president of the National Organization for Women:

Betty Friedan, 1966–1970
Aileen Hernandez, 1970–1971
Wilma Scott Heide, 1971–1974
Karen DeCrow, 1974–1977
Eleanor Smeal, 1977–1982
Judy Goldsmith, 1982–1985
Eleanor Smeal, 1985–1987
Molly Yard, 1987–1991
Patricia Ireland, 1991–2001
Kim Gandy, 2001–2009
Terry O'Neill, 2009–2017
Toni Van Pelt, 2017–2020
Christian Nunes, 2020–present

National Organization for Women facts for kids

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