Women's Rights During The Cold War Era

There were multiple milestones for Women’s Rights during the Cold War Era. The first of which included twenty years of substantial economic growth which resulted in numerous opportunities for women in the workplace. At the end of World War II women comprised a fourth of the American workforce (Brief American Pageant). Although things were changing culturally for women in the 1950’s, legislative protection from discrimination did not occur until the 1960’s with the advent of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and affirmative action (The Brief American Pageant). One of the most significant developments in the battle for women’s rights occurred with the passage of Roe versus Wade in 1973 making abortion legal (The Brief American
For example, NOW adopted the Equal Rights Amendment in 1967. The amendment was eventually ratified in 1982 largely due to NOW ratification campaigns in all 50 states (Highlights, NOW). NOW was also instrumental in jump starting efforts to protect the and support rape survivors and LBGT individuals. In 2018, some of their work focuses on supporting women in challenging custody cases, body positivity, promoting feminism across the globe, and voter mobilization. Many significant organizations including the ACLU, NOW, Planned Parenthood and a host of others note that now is not the time to rest on the accomplishments that began with the first wave of the women’s movement in the 1920’s and strengthened with the advent of the second wave of the women’s movement after the Cold War. In a society that is increasingly aware of ongoing disparities in women’s pay, educational and job opportunities it is imperative that we use the examples of the pioneers to inform our efforts to continue making strides for women (ACLU, NOW). With each generation there is an increased awareness of new and complex issues that must be addressed and resolved (History of Women’s Rights, National Women’s History Project). For example, within the past year alone it has become clear that sex trafficking is literally happening right in our back yards. Without building on and sustaining established legislation from the past there is no way women will be able to move forward in their quest for equality. In her article titled “What Happened to the Feminist Movement”, Barbara Epstein shares concerns that efforts to promote gender equality becoming less well organized and meaningful than in the Cold War Era. She cautions that if this trend is allowed to continue efforts to promote equality for women could experience the fate of the first wave of the women’s movement (What Happened to the Feminist