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Relevancy and connections to the current society

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Here, we explore the original goals of the women's rights movement, how the cause has evolved over the decades, and where the movement stands today.

Due to the unmet need of contraceptives around the globe, 218 million women do not have the autonomy to use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy when they do not want to be pregnant. But why can't more women access the care they need?

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Terminology About Women's Rights

First, a quick note about terminology. Women's rights are a set of goals, the specifics of which have evolved over the centuries. Feminism is the belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.

One of the most straightforward ways to discuss and understand the course of the women's rights movement is through the various "waves" of feminism. Each wave of feminism, from the 1840s to today, built upon those movements before it but had a different focus than those of previous generations.

Wave One: Giving Women The Right to Vote

First-wave feminism began in 1848 and lasted well into the early 20th century. Its primary goal was earning women the right to vote.

In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the Constitution declared that the voting rights of US citizens could not be denied "on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude," welcoming Black men to the electoral process. However, women of all races were still denied the right to vote.

In response, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton formed the National Woman Suffrage Association. The group marched in Washington, D.C. to change federal law and advocate for voting rights not included in the 15th Amendment. For 70 years, suffragettes fought tirelessly for the vote, marching, lecturing, protesting, and fighting against enormous odds.

The fight continued until, state by state, the balance began to shift. In 1890, Wyoming was the first state to grant women the right to vote. Soon after, other western states followed. Then in 1920, the monumental 19th Amendment was ratified, and the right of women to vote was law of the land. (However, many Black women, as well as Native Americans, were prevented from voting until passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act .)

First-wave feminism had an enormous impact on women's rights in the US. However, it's important to recognize that the movement was primarily focused on rights for white women.

Many of the original leaders of the women's right movement were actually abolitionists-including Sojourner Truth, Maria Stewart and Frances E.W. Harper. But after the 15th Amendment granted Black men the right to vote, Anthony, Stanton and other white suffragette leaders began advocating specifically for white women's suffrage, sometimes explicitly using racism to help gain support for their cause.

Wave Two: Woment Want Social Equality

Second-wave feminism began around 1963 and lasted until the 1980s. One of the propellants of this phase of the women's rights movement was Betty Friedan's book The Feminine Mystique. Building upon a growing body of literature exploring the topic of systemic sexism, Friedan's book became a huge bestseller, reaching millions of American women and helping awaken them to issues of social and political equality.

Second-wave feminism focused on the areas of life in which women were still treated as second-class citizens. After finally getting the vote, women wanted greater representation in government, as well as legislation that would address gender-based issues.

Women pushed through huge societal changes in the '60s and '70s, including:

Landmark Supreme Court cases that gave women the right to use birth control

Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed reproductive freedom

The Equal Pay Act of 1963, which sought to close the gender pay gap

Title IX, which paved the way for educational equality

Meanwhile, women were also fighting smaller-scale battles that had a huge impact. Many middle-class women joined the workforce for the first time and began pushing their husbands to share household chores and childcare. They defined sexual harassment and began talking about the concept of consent, sharing their experiences with abuse, rape and harassment more freely than ever before.

Much like first-wave feminism, the second wave was primarily focused on the rights of middle-class white women, who were frustrated by a lack of opportunity outside of motherhood and domestic responsibilities. While many second-wave feminists also cared about racism, over time it became clear that women of color faced much different challenges than white women. For example, white women wanted the opportunity to work outside of the home and control their own reproductive destinies; black women, many of whom already worked outside of the home, also sought an end to the forced sterilization of people of color and people with disabilities.

Waves Three and Four: Consciousness-Raising and Modern Feminism

The groundbreaking progress of the '60s and '70s helped to lay the foundation for modern feminism. Girls of this era grew up watching women astronauts in space, witnessed the first female Supreme Court Justice, played sports with boys, and heard the testimony of Anita Hill, which helped to bring sexual harassment to the forefront of social consciousness. Most importantly, they grew up to raise more strong women ready to lead the next era of the movement.

First- and second-wave feminism had enormous and far-reaching impacts on US society. For example, without the right to vote and govern, Title IX-which gave women equality in the world of school sports-may have never happened. Without Title IX, the US Women's National Soccer Team wouldn't have had the chance to gain international recognition as the best soccer team in the world.

Just think how far women have come: from not being able to vote-and in fact, being treated like property-to having the chance to become world-class athletes who also are parents, activists, and pop culture icons.

Sadly, though, even the US Women's National Soccer Team still has battles to fight on the field of women's rights. The team is in a multi-year battle for equal pay , which is one of the goals of today's women's rights movement. This is despite winning two consecutive World Cups while the men's team failed to qualify.

In areas outside of sports, women also continue to build upon the work of previous generations to continue to advance women's rights. Women are now better represented in our government, but there is still a lot of progress required before Congress, the Supreme Court and the White House are truly reflective of American society.

Anita Hill's testimony helped give a voice to Tarana Burke, who founded the #MeToo movement and helped to awaken a new generation of feminists and activists. Plus, the shortcomings of first- and second-wave feminism have helped inform the current wave, which in many ways seeks to be more inclusive of black and indigenous women and people of color; bisexual, non-binary and trans women; women with disabilities and other marginalized groups.

Indeed, today there's a growing focus on " intersectional feminism ," a type of feminism that is more inclusive and recognizes the incredible diversity of women's lived experiences. Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term in 1989 to point out that "all inequality is not created equal." Approaching feminism through an intersectional lens helps us understand that people's social identities can overlap, leading to compounded experiences of discrimination.

While many disagree on whether feminism is currently in its third or fourth wave, it's clear that intersectionality is a step toward a more inclusive, even more impactful women's rights movement. Surely the goals of today's feminists will benefit women in the future, just like the suffragettes of the 1800s did so many years ago.

Help Support Our Vision for Women's Rights

At Population Media Center (PMC), we practice intersectional feminism as we work toward our goal of a sustainable planet with equal rights for all. We create popular TV and radio shows to raise consciousness about issues that many people aren't even aware of, such as female genital mutilation, education, and child marriage. We empower women and girls to give them the opportunity to determine the future of their lives, including how many children they have and when-because we cannot achieve a sustainable planet without first stabilizing the population .

In the ongoing pursuit of women's rights, challenging and dismantling the patriarchal systems that persist is fundamental. The Women's Rights Movement strives for equality and justice, recognizing that breaking free from patriarchal norms is pivotal to achieving its goals. By addressing deep-seated gender biases and advocating for systemic change, we pave the way for a world where women can fully exercise their rights and potential. Embracing this transformative journey is not just a choice but a collective responsibility in shaping a future where gender equality is the norm, not the exception. Join the fight against patriarchy and stand united for the empowerment of women everywhere.

We're creating positive change for generations to come by using entertainment education to change deeply rooted social norms in communities around the world. We work to catalyze change with engaging, long-running entertainment that can impact behaviors where isolated service provision or direct messaging typically fail.

Interested in getting involved? Explore ways to take action with PMC.

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A History of the Goals of Women's Rights Movements

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Explore the original goals of the women's rights movement, how the cause has evolved over time, and where the movement stands today.

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Women's history is full of trailblazers in the fight for equality in the United States. From Abigail Adams imploring her husband to "remember the ladies" when envisioning a government for the American colonies, to suffragists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton fighting for women's right to vote, to the rise of feminism and Hillary Clinton becoming the first female nominee for president by a major political party, American women have long fought for equal footing throughout the nation's history.

And while some glass ceilings have been shattered (see: Title IX), others remain. But progress continues to be made. As Clinton said while accepting her nomination, "When there are no ceilings, the sky's the limit."

Below is a timeline of notable events in U.S. women's history.

Abigail Adams, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth

March 31, 1776: In a letter to her husband, Founding Father John Adams, future first lady Abigail Adams makes a plea to him and the Continental Congress to "remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation."

July 19-20, 1848: In the first women's rights convention organized by women, the Seneca Falls Convention is held in New York, with 300 attendees, including organizers Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Sixty-eight women and 32 men (including Frederick Douglass) sign the Declaration of Sentiments, which sparked decades of activism, eventually leading to the passage of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.
READ MORE: Why the 19th Amendment Did Not Guarantee All Women the Right to Vote
January 23, 1849: Elizabeth Blackwell becomes the first woman to graduate from medical school and become a doctor in the United States. Born in Bristol, England, she graduated from Geneva College in New York with the highest grades in her entire class.

May 29, 1851: A formerly enslaved worker turned abolitionist and women's rights activist, Sojourner Truth delivers her famous "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. "And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man-when I could get it-and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne 13 children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?"

Contemporaneous reports of Truth's speech did not include this slogan, and quoted Truth in standard English. In later years, this slogan was further distorted to "Ain't I a Woman?", reflecting the false belief that as a formerly enslaved woman, Truth would have had a Southern accent. Truth was, in fact, a New Yorker.
READ MORE: Early Women's Rights Activists Wanted Much More than Suffrage
Suffrage Movement, 19th Amendment

May 15, 1869: Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton found the National Woman Suffrage Association, which coordinated the national suffrage movement. In 1890, the group teamed with the American Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

October 16, 1916: Margaret Sanger opens the first birth control clinic in the United States. Located in Brownsville, Brooklyn, her clinic was deemed illegal under the "Comstock Laws" forbidding birth control, and the clinic was raided on October 26, 1916. When she had to close two additional times due to legal threats, she closed the clinic and eventually founded the American Birth Control League in 1921-the precursor to today's Planned Parenthood.

April 2, 1917: Jeannette Rankin of Montana, a longtime activist with the National Woman Suffrage Association, is sworn in as the first woman elected to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives.

Aug. 18, 1920: Ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is completed, declaring "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." It is nicknamed "The Susan B. Anthony Amendment" in honor of her work on behalf of women's suffrage.

February 16, 1945: The Alaska Equal Rights Act is signed into law. The act is the first state or territorial anti-discrimination law enacted in the United States in the 20th century. Elizabeth Peratrovich, a Tlingit woman who was Grand President of the Alaska Native Sisterhood, spearheaded the effort to end discrimination against Alaska Natives and other non-white residents.

Rosa Parks, Civil Rights, Equal Pay

May 9, 1960: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the first commercially produced birth control pill in the world, allowing women to control when and if they have children. Margaret Sanger initially commissioned " the pill " with funding from heiress Katherine McCormick.

July 2, 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson, signs the Civil Rights Act into law; Title VII bans employment discrimination based on race, religion, national origin or sex.

June 30, 1966: Betty Friedan, author of 1963's The Feminine Mystique, helps found the National Organization for Women (NOW), using, as the organization now states, "grassroots activism to promote feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate discrimination, and achieve and protect the equal rights of all women and girls in all aspects of social, political, and economic life."
READ MORE: Six Unsung Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement
Title IX, Battle of the Sexes

Jan. 22, 1973: In its landmark 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court declares that the Constitution protects a woman's legal right to an abortion. In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling.

Sandra Day O'Connor, Sally Ride

July 7, 1981: Sandra Day O'Connor is sworn in by President Ronald Reagan as the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. She retires in 2006, after serving for 24 years.

June 18 1983: Flying on the Space Shuttle Challenger, Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.

March 12, 1993: Nominated by President Bill Clinton, Janet Reno is sworn in as the first female attorney general of the United States.

Sept. 13, 1994: Clinton signs the Violence Against Women Act as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, providing funding for programs that help victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, stalking and other gender-related violence.

Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris

The daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, Harris served as California's first Black female attorney general and won election to the U.S. Senate in 2016. She made her own unsuccessful presidential bid before being selected by former vice president Joe Biden as his running mate.
READ MORE: 7 Women Leaders That Were Elected to Highest Office
Sources

Timeline of Legal History of Women in the United States, National Women's History Alliance

Seneca Falls Convention, Library of Congress

Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I A Woman?" Sojourner Truth Memorial

Woman Suffrage, National Geographic Society

Suffragists Unite: National American Woman Suffrage Association, National Women's History Museum

A record number of women will be serving in the new Congress. PEWResearch.org.

A List of Firsts for Women In This Year's Midterm Elections. NPR.org.

Fact Check

We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

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From a plea to a founding father, to the suffragists to Title IX, to the first female political figures, women have blazed a steady trail towards equality in the United States. Explore famous firsts and figures in women's history with this timeline.

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1. The story questions old ideas about marriage and shows that finding independence and self-discovery is essential for personal happiness. This connects with today's changing perspectives on relationships and marriage, emphasizing the importance of individual growth within partnerships.

2. The surprising twist at the end, revealing that Brently Mallard is alive, brings irony and highlights life's unpredictability. This mirrors today's world where people encounter unexpected challenges and plot twists in their personal stories, making the story's exploration of life's uncertainties still relevant.

3. The story highlights societal expectations placed on individuals, particularly women, to conform to certain roles. The pressure to conform and the consequences of breaking societal norms are themes that continue to be relevant in discussions about societal expectations and individual choices.

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Both are possible.

In a modern context, Louise Mallard might find support and avenues for personal growth. The evolving societal views on women's independence and self-discovery could empower her to navigate the complexities of her emotions and marriage. With increased awareness and acceptance of diverse lifestyles, Louise might seek counseling, engage in open communication, and pursue a path towards personal fulfillment while maintaining relationships.

On the other hand, societal pressures and traditional expectations might still pose challenges for Louise Mallard. The story could take a darker turn in today's society if she succumbs to the pressure to conform to conventional norms. The complexities of navigating relationships and societal expectations may overwhelm her, leading to a tragic outcome despite the evolving cultural landscape.