The National Organization For Women (N.O.W.) adopted a "Bill of Rights” for women in 1968.
That "Bill of Rights” consisted of a list of eight demands…upon the U.S. federal government.
These were:
I. Passage Of The Equal Rights Constitutional Amendment
We Demand:That the United States Congress immediately pass the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution to provide that "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex" and that such then be immediately ratified by the several States.
II. Enforcement of Laws Banning Sex Discrimination in Employment.
. We Demand:That equal employment opportunity be guaranteed to all women, as well as men by insisting that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforce the prohibitions against sex discrimination in employment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the same vigor as it enforces the prohibitions against racial discrimination.
III. The granting of Maternity Leave Rights in Employment and in Social Security Benefits.
. We Demand: That women be protected by law to insure their rights to return to their jobs within a reasonable time after childbirth without loss of seniority or other accrued benefits and be paid maternity leave as a form of social security and/or employee benefit.
IV. An allowance of Tax Deductions for Home and Child Care Expenses for Working Parents.
We Demand: Immediate revision of tax laws to permit the deduction of home and child care expenses for working parents.
V. The establishment of free public Child Day Care Centers nationwide.
We Demand: That child care facilities be established by law on the same basis as parks, libraries and public schools adequate to the needs of children, from the pre-school years through adolescence, as a community resource to be used by all citizens from all income levels.
VI. Taking steps to guarantee Equal and Unsegregated Education for all
We Demand: That the right of women to be educated to their full potential equally with men be secured by Federal and State legislation, eliminating all discrimination and segregation by sex, written and unwritten, at all levels of education including college, graduate and professional schools, loans and fellowships and Federal and State training programs, such as the job Corps.
VII. Equal Job Training Opportunities for all and Welfare Allowances for Women in Poverty.
We Demand: The right of women in poverty to secure job training, housing and family allowances on equal terms with men, but without prejudice to a parent's right to remain at home to care for his or her children; revision of welfare legislation and poverty programs which deny women dignity, privacy and self respect.
VIII. The Right of Women to Control their Reproductive Lives trough the free availability of contraceptives and abortion on demand.
We Demand: The right of women to control their own reproductive lives by removing from penal codes the laws limiting access to contraceptive information and devices and laws governing abortion.
This “Bill Of Rights” of the National Organization For Women was (and still is) a great program for creating and maintaining gender equality in the United States of America…
However……
Looking at these eight demands some forty years after they were first adopted by N.O.W. I am deeply saddened that woman have had such limited success in getting these eight demands satisfied.
Does anyone out there feel the same way?
Does anyone out there believe (as I do ) that we need to revive the Feminist Movement?
Let me know….O.K.???
