National Organization for Women

National Organization for Women. Founded in 1966 by a group of activists including Betty Friedan and Pauli Murray, it is the largest feminist organization in the United States. Established during the third wave of feminist activism, its creation was a direct response to the perceived failure of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The organization has since been a principal force in advocating for legislative, social, and economic equality for American women.

History

The organization was officially founded on June 30, 1966, at the Third National Conference of Commissions on the Status of Women in Washington, D.C.. Key founders, frustrated by the Lyndon B. Johnson administration's lack of action on sex discrimination, drafted its founding statement during the conference. Early pivotal actions included a 1967 national conference where members adopted a Bill of Rights for Women demanding reforms like the enforcement of Title IX and passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. Under the leadership of its first president, Betty Friedan, the group organized major demonstrations, including the 1970 Women's Strike for Equality march down Fifth Avenue in New York City. The 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade marked a significant victory for its advocacy, though it later became a central focus for defense. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, it confronted challenges from the Reagan administration and the rise of the Christian right, while also navigating internal debates over issues like lesbian rights and pornography.

Structure and governance

The organization operates as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization with a parallel 501(c)(3) foundation, the NOW Foundation. Its national leadership is headed by a president, currently Christian Nunes, and a national board of directors elected at annual national conferences. The structure is federated, comprising hundreds of local and state chapters across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Key internal entities include the National NOW Conference, which sets the annual agenda, and various task forces dedicated to specific issues like racial justice and reproductive rights. Its operations are funded through member dues, donations, and grants to its foundation, supporting activities ranging from lobbying on Capitol Hill to operating the NOW PAC for electoral endorsements.

Issues and advocacy

Core advocacy areas have consistently included achieving constitutional equality through the Equal Rights Amendment and protecting abortion rights and access to birth control. The organization has litigated and lobbied extensively against discrimination in employment, education, and credit, under laws like the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. It campaigns to end violence against women, supporting the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, and advocates for LGBTQ rights, including same-sex marriage as affirmed in Obergefell v. Hodges. Other major initiatives focus on advancing racial justice, promoting intersectional feminism, securing economic justice through policies addressing the gender pay gap, and opposing discriminatory practices in institutions from the United States military to the Catholic Church.

Political activities and impact

The organization maintains a strong presence in electoral politics through its political action committee, which endorses and funds pro-feminist candidates, primarily within the Democratic Party. It organizes mass mobilizations, such as the 1992 March for Women's Lives and the 2017 Women's March, and engages in direct lobbying of the United States Congress and state legislatures. Its litigation arm has been involved in numerous landmark cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, shaping jurisprudence on gender discrimination. The group's advocacy was instrumental in the passage of key legislation like the Violence Against Women Act and influenced presidential administrations from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama on appointments to the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary.

Criticism and controversies

The organization has faced criticism from both conservative and progressive quarters. Critics from the right, including groups like the Eagle Forum and Concerned Women for America, have long opposed its stances on abortion and the Equal Rights Amendment. From within the feminist movement, it has been critiqued for historically prioritizing issues affecting white, middle-class women, leading to high-profile departures like that of Florynce Kennedy. Its steadfast support for the Democratic Party has drawn accusations of partisanship, while its positions on transgender rights and sex work have sparked internal debate. External controversies have included its opposition to the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court and its public disputes with figures like Phyllis Schlafly during the Stop ERA campaign.