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Women before 1848 lived under the conditions of coverture, meaning a husband and wife were one under the law, and this gave husbands
financial and legal control over their wives. Under coverture, women had no control of their property once married, unable to buy, sell, own, or inherit anything they possessed before... https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Dy73bB4fi_NGLdw-hzkUPhzxNBomO8Q9IPc_q1ZVE-I/edit?tab=t.0 -
The first women's rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, NY. The convention was organized by five white women, notably Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. The goal of this convention was to advocate for women's legal rights, to choose what to do when they are married, their right to be represented in government, and all this for black women also. Primarily, all options for men to be extended were demanded in Elizabeth Stanton's controversial reading of the Declaration of Sentiments. -
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to receive her medical degree in America. Elizabeth graduated from Geneva Medical College at the top of her class. Inspired by a friend's medical experience of neglect from a male doctor.
doctorhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1Dy73bB4fi_NGLdw-hzkUPhzxNBomO8Q9IPc_q1ZVE-I/edit?tab=t.0 -
Wyoming passed the first woman suffrage (Suffrage: the right to vote in political elections) law on December 10, 1869, and women voted for the first time in 1870, this is fundamentally imortant to womens rights because Wyoming prompted other states to consider giving this right to their states too. After Wyoming passed this law Colorado followed in 1872, and Utah and Idaho followed in 1896. Suffragists from all over went to other states to advocate for further expanded rights. -
The 19th Amendment (simplified) states that 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. This new wording was an amendment (19th), but the original wording remains the same in the Constitution, saying States have control over voting. The whole reason why the 19th Amendment was created to take the power away from the states controlling polls, allowing women to finally vote. -
The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was first established as an auxiliary unit with no military status in 1942. It was then recognized as an official military ally in 1943, which further granted members full military status and the same rights as male soldiers within their roles. Women now make up 17.7% of U.S. active-duty military personnel, totaling over 225,000 service members. The Army has around 16% women, and the Marine Corps has about 10%. -
The Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963, allowing all employees in the same workplace to receive the same pay for performing substantially equal work. This act was signed by President John F. Kennedy, aiming to eliminate sex-based wage discrimination, requiring employers to raise wages to equalize pay, not lower them. -
Shirley Chisholm was the first woman of color to be elected to the House of Representatives. After this major accomplishment, Chisholm later launched her presidential campaign on January 25, 1972, making her the first major-party Black candidate for President. Her campaign inspired many and paved the way for future candidates. She remained positive despite facing large amounts of discrimination. -
Roe v. Wade wasn't passed as a law but was a landmark Supreme Court decision on January 22, 1973, that established a woman's constitutional right to an abortion under the Fourteenth Amendment's right to privacy, legalizing abortion nationwide and destroying the states' bans. This ruling protected a woman's choice to terminate a pregnancy. Roe v. Wade was ultimately overturned in 2022, and it returned abortion regulation to individual states. -
Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to travel to space. Jemison was accepted out of 2,000 applicants in 1987 for NASA's Astronaut Group 12. Once selected, Jemison and six other astronauts rocketed into space for their mission in 1992. With this successful launch, Mae Jemison became the first African American woman in space. A monumental flight for all women, but specifically African American women. Allowing them to start being accepted in workplaces of prestige, such as NASA! -
The Million Mom March, held on Mother’s Day 2000, in 77 communities across the country, was the largest protest against gun violence in U.S. history, until 2018! The march is still held annually all over the country, calling for stricter gun control. This march has brought many successes to the cause, including uniting diverse citizens (not just traditional activists), creating a powerful voice, and inspired immediate action, with stalled gun safety legislation moving forward in statehouses. -
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was the first bill signed by President Obama. It overturned a Supreme Court ruling, resetting the limitations of filing pay discrimination claims. This made it easier to challenge unequal pay based on gender, race, religion, or disability. It also clarified the fact that victims are allowed to seek relief for past discrimination. -
Wangari Maathai was the first Black African woman to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in environmental conservation. Her strides toward a cleaner world started in the 1970s when she founded the "Green Belt Movement", a non-governmental organization focused on environmental conservation and women’s rights. She was also an elected member of Parliament. Finally, she served as assistant minister for Environment and Natural Resources between 2003 and 2005. -
On January 23, 2013, a policy shift was announced, overturning a 1994 rule that barred women from smaller ground combat units. The change recognized women who were already serving in dangerous combat-like roles in Iraq and Afghanistan but were not receiving full recognition or opportunities. Now, (recognized) women make up almost 18% of the U.S. active-duty military. -
NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir were among the first all-woman spacewalking crew performing maintenance and replacing a faulty battery. This event marked the first time two women conducted a spacewalk together. While their fight was insanely historic, it was also very controversial because of its delayed fight due to NASA's lack of propper sized equipment for these women astronauts. While these women were in space, they had a team of women and men working with them.