National Organization for Women

NOWs Mission

The National Organization for Womens purpose is to take

action through intersectional grassroots activism to promote
feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate
discrimination and achieve and protect the rights of all
women and girls in all aspects of social, political, and
economic life.
The History of NOW
The National Organization for Women or
N.O.W. was formed June 30, 1966, at
the Third National Conference of
Commissions on the Status of Women
in response to the failure to enforce the
Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission and Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964.
Intersectional feminism
1975 there were over 600 chapters. As
membership increased, the organization
addressed more issues, including a
"war on poverty," the Equal Rights
Amendment, child care, abortion rights,
sexual harassment, women in
government, women and religion, and
violence against women.
 NOW organized boycotts,
marches and fundraising
supported by hundreds of
thousands of people and raised
millions of dollars. ERA Seeks
to end the legal distinctions
between men and women in
terms of divorce, property,
employment, and other matters.
Demographics
The National Organization for Women
appeals to men and women with liberal
views who seek fair treatment and
equality.
Opposing the feminist movement

Those who oppose feminism are typically

conservative males or females who have
misconceptions about what feminism entails.

Lauren Southern. The odyssey online

Endorsements of Candidates

Rigorous Criteria
Reproductive rights and justice

Economic justice

Ending violence against women

Racial justice

LBGT rights (including marriage equality)

Constitutional Equality
Endorsements for President

In the 2016 election NOW endorsed Hillary Clinton

for president. Electing a feminist woman president

is not only historic, but would lead to further

advances toward equality for all women.

NOW PAC donated $2,120. to Hilary for America.

93 NOW endorsed feminist candidates won their general
election in the 2016 cycle
Senators:
Catherine Cortez Masto (NV): First woman to represent Nevada in the Senate and the first Latina to
serve in the Senate.

Tammy Duckworth (IL): First Thai American to serve in the Senate and the first Asian American
woman elected to Congress. Duckworth was the first combat disabled veteran to serve in Congress and
will be the first to do so in the Senate.

Kamala Harris (CA): Harris is of Jamaican and East Indian heritage and will be the first
African-American woman to serve in the Senate since Carol Moseley Braun, making her just the second
African-American woman Senator.

Maggie Hassan (NH): Hassan was the second woman elected to be governor after Jeanne Shaheen
with whom she will now serve in the Senate.

Chris Van Hollen (MD): Former Montgomery County NOW member who will now serve as the 2018
Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Newly elected NOW PAC endorsed members
House:
Val Demings (FL-10): Demings was the first woman Chief of the Orlando Police Department.

Stephanie Murphy (FL-07): Murphy is the first Vietnamese-American woman elected to Congress.

Jamie Raskin (MD-08): Law professor.

Brad Schneider (IL-10): Former member of the House.

Carol Shea Porter (NH-01): Was in her first election the first woman elected to Congress in 2006 from New
Hampshire.

Dwight Evans (PA-02): Defeated incumbent Chaka Fattah in the 2016 primary election and won a special
election on Nov. 8 following Fattahs resignation from Congress.

Pramila Jayapal (WA-07): Jayapal will be the first Indian-American woman to serve in Congress.
Funding for NOW
NOW raises the money to support its various

causes and campaigns from a dues-paying

membership, voluntary contributions to an equality

action fund, fund-raising campaigns, and grants

from national foundations. In 1986 it also

established a NOW Foundation, as a

tax-deductible education and litigation organization

affiliated with NOW. The largest single donation in

2016 was for $1,500.

Political association
The National Organization for Women
is a non-partisan Organization,
non-partisan meaning it is not biased
therefore candidates of all political
political parties are eligible for
endorsement by NOW.

Although they are a non-partisan

organization NOW does consistently
exhort voters to support the democratic
candidates.
Affecting American
Culture
NOW has obviously had many affects on the American
Culture. Striving to eliminate discrimination and
harassment in the workplace, schools, the justice system,
etc, NOWs actions have established major force in the
changes that put more women in political posts, increased
education, employment, and business opportunities. Their
actions also enacted tougher laws against violence,
harassment and discrimination against women. One of
NOWs strongest concerns is gaining recognition for
women's work. From projects to marches, there is no
doubt that the National Organization for Women has had
an affect on the American Culture.
 Effects on Political Culture
When it comes to the political culture, NOW initiated the growing involvement of women in politics with an
agenda that included better education, employment, and political opportunities for women. NOW member,
Shirley Chisholm became the first black woman elected to the house of representatives in November of
1968. She later was endorsed by NOW into the democratic primary and she was the first African
American woman to run for president. She was also NOWs first presidential endorsement.

Now has had many events that made a difference in political culture. Both pressure and activism from
NOW not only helped them get through the seventies it also helped fight to preserve the Supreme Court's
pro-choice ruling in the Roe v. Wade case (1973) which helped pave the way for women to take more
active roles in modern science, sports, and politics.
Works Cited
2016 PAC Contribution Data. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?cycle=2016&strID=C00092247. Accessed 19
April 2017

Bylaws National Organization for Women, June 2015, http://now.org/about/structure-and-bylaws/bylaws/. Accessed 21 April
2017.

Carmody,Broede. Feminism and testicles: men can be feminists too. Lip, 13 February 2013,
http://lipmag.com/opinion/feminism-and-testicles-men-can-be-feminists-too/. Accessed 2017 21 April.

Endorsements Process NOW PAC. http://nowpac.org/endorsements-process/ .Accessed 19 April 2017

Federal Endorsements http://nowpac.org/category/latest-news/. Accessed 19 April 2017

Lehnardt, Karin. Only 20% of Americans consider themselves feminists Fact retriever,
https://www.factretriever.com/feminism-facts. Accessed 21 April 2017.

NOW Endorses Hillary Clinton for President 2016. http://nownyc.org.Accessed 19 April 2017
Southern, Lauren. Why I am not a feminist. 2016. Odyssey. https://www.theodysseyonline.com/why-am-no-feminist. Accessed
21 April 2017

National Organization for Women. (2). History. Accessed October 2004 http://www.now.org/history/history.html

National Organization for Women. (3). Home Page. Accessed October 2004. http://www.now.org.