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The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
This important document from the French Revolution said that all men are born free and equal with the same rights. However, it didn’t include women in these rights. This led to protests from early feminists like Olympe de Gouges, who argued that women should also have the same rights as men. The document helped start the long fight for gender equality that would continue for many years. -
Olympe de Gouges Writes the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen
In response to the Declaration of the Rights of Man, Olympe de Gouges wrote a document called the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen. She asked for women to have the same rights as men, including the right to vote, own property, and have freedoms in society. People didn’t like her ideas, and she was executed in 1793. She became a symbol for the fight for women’s rights. -
Susan Glaspell Publishes "A Jury of Her Peers"
Susan Glaspell wrote a short story called A Jury of Her Peers, which criticizes how women are treated in the legal system. The story is based on a real murder investigation and shows how women’s views are often ignored. Through the female characters, Glaspell highlights the unfair treatment of women and questions old ideas about justice. -
Alice Paul Introduces the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
Alice Paul, a key leader in the fight for women’s rights, introduced the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1923. The ERA aimed to make sure all people, no matter their gender, had equal legal rights. Even though it has been debated for many years and faced a lot of opposition, it still hasn’t been passed. However, it continues to be an important topic in the fight for gender equality today. -
Miss America Protest and the Birth of Feminist Activism
In 1968, feminists held a protest against the Miss America pageant, saying it treated women like objects and focused too much on their looks. This protest was an important part of the second wave of feminism and helped highlight issues like unrealistic beauty standards and women’s right to define themselves. The protest also led to the creation of the Miss Black America pageant, which was started in response to racial exclusion. -
Shirley Chisholm Announces Candidacy for U.S. President
In 1972, Shirley Chisholm made history as the first Black woman to run for president of the United States. Her campaign focused on issues like racial justice, gender equality, and education reform, and challenged both racial and gender barriers in politics. Even though she didn’t win, Chisholm’s run helped open the door for future women and people of color to take leadership roles in politics. -
NASA’s Human Computers and the Gendered History of Computing
During the 1940s–1960s, women, particularly Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, worked as "human computers" at NASA, performing vital calculations for space missions. Despite their crucial contributions, they were often overlooked and denied recognition. In the 1980s and 1990s, their work began to be acknowledged, highlighting the significant but historically ignored role women played in science and technology. -
Women's Rights Movement Gains Momentum with "Second Wave Feminism"
In the 1980s, the second wave of feminism grew stronger, focusing on issues like women’s right to choose, discrimination at work, and equal rights under the law. During this time, important laws were passed, like the Equal Pay Act, which aimed to ensure equal pay for women, and Title IX, which made it illegal to discriminate based on sex in school programs that get government funding. -
Smithsonian Article "A Gendered History of Human Computers"
The Smithsonian published an article called A Gendered History of Human Computers, which focused on the important work of women like Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson at NASA. Their math and engineering work was key to early space exploration but was mostly ignored for many years. The article helped bring attention to their achievements and encouraged more recognition of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. -
"(Almost) 100 Years of the Equal Rights Amendment" Video Podcast- Present/Ongoing
The video podcast "(Almost) 100 Years of the Equal Rights Amendment" talked about the long history and continued fight for the ERA, which was first introduced by Alice Paul in 1923. It explained the challenges the amendment has faced in Congress and how it still matters for gender equality today. The podcast helped bring attention back to the fight for legal equality for women, reminding people that the struggle for equal rights under U.S. law is still ongoing.