Introduction
The history of the United States is so diverse and various that it is even hard to imagine how many organizations there had been created by Americans throughout ages and centuries. However, the most fruitful period in terms of organizations’ creation was the middle of the twentieth century. The post-war period was significant for many breakthroughs in the history of America. Starting with art culture and up to politics – America was in the middle of world events disregarding the life sphere touched upon. The US was the most powerful and the most prosperous state on the planet.
The Name of the Organization and What Social Issue It Targets
The topic of discussion of this paper is the National Organization of Women – NOW – that fights for the rights of women and variously protects them across the United States. It is hard to imagine America without struggles to give equal rights to its citizens disregarding gender, social level, and race. The marvelous changes in women rights started to take place in 1960’s when the role of woman was reconsidered within different life spheres. Women began to produce art works and stand for their equal rights with the man.
The primary social issue NOW targets to bring equality to women of all ages, race, and social layer. They say that they are not the followers of the women’s role principles, on the contrary – they take the leading position. They strive to make all social aspects men occupy available for women. Namely, it is important to put more women in political posts. Not of less importance is the opportunity to give a worthy education, job seats, and business to women to prosper and prove their equality. Of course, it is hard not to mention that NOW fights to tighten the laws against discrimination of women, domestic violence, and sexual harassment.
Besides among the issues they fight for are ending sex discrimination, lesbian rights movement, promoting diversity and ending racism, economic justice, etc. These and much more are the target issue that NOW pursues. It is a wonderful chance for those who undergo any serious problems stated above to turn for help, or on the contrary volunteer and provide help to those who need it desperately.
The Reason to Choose NOW
The Reason I chose to talk about National Organization for Women is that I have heard of many harassments that women were victims of. There is no doubt that there still are those women who simply ignore their chance to get help just because they are scared to death. I know that historically the American women were somewhat underestimated; however, no one can pin any labels just because of who you are and what you do. One more reason is that women deserve equal pay. Who said that women have another brain activity? As a matter of fact, women are able to overcome more difficulties and face more stressful job than men do. Nevertheless, still, in the modern democratic society we can face injustice as per the attitude towards women. No wonder, such organizations like the National Organization for Women take their firm grounds within the society that needs those.
Based upon the Interview
What Are the Goals of the Organization?
The foremost goal of the organization since 1966 is equalizing women’s rights. This has been the priority and is still urgent. The dream is to make women of the United States and women all over the world as equal as not being afraid of the next day’s circumstances. Being a woman in the contemporary American society does not have to mean that she needs a man for the deserving life. The high salary and other independence in any life sphere is what NOW aim for. The overall image of a happy woman is a woman living in a fair society with equal rights and serene safe environment. Hopefully, there will be no need for such an organization throughout the world the next century because probably women will be considered equally powerful members of the society. Though for now “…it remains the largest feminist organization founded during the second wave of the women’s movement” (Barasko, 2004, p.2)
How and Why Did It Begin?
Along with the end of the Second World War American women’s feminist movements waned. Subsequently, the media celebrated the end of the feminist fights and proclaimed the happy life for women at home doing their household chores. So, the women of the United States of the midst 60s of the previous century were sentenced to the quiet suburban house life. As Ruth Rosen described: “… the bourgeois, middle-class dream. All I wanted was a little piece of life, to be married, to have children” (2006, p.3)
However, luckily once The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, women started arousing after the years of keeping quiet. That was a very significant moment for them because the first thing they wanted is getting a good job, hence they demanded prohibiting sex discrimination in employment. Therefore in 1965 The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was successfully established. This led to reinforcing of the feminist movement in the US and, subsequently, forming the NOW.
How Successful Has the Organization Been?
Undoubtedly, the entire history is very successful because the organization still exists and prospers since 1966. There were thousands of achievements of the organization for the past several decades. However there are some that surely need special attention. Among the fights for women’s right in terms of sexual harassment, Now protest Justice Department’s “medical guidelines” because they omitted the opportunity for women to get pregnant after the rape in 2005. In 2006 they celebrated the “Forty Fearless Years” that surely give much hope to women.
What Future Plans Does the Organization Have?
There are multiple goals set for the future by this marvelous organization. Along with the desire to equalize rights for women across America NOW want to discuss the issue of the same-sex marriage. They are going to make it their strong and decisive concern for the next decades. Also, it is a topic of great debates of women being in military. Though they do participate actively, some rights are still being violated. NOW is going to take that onto their account.
Conclusion
I admire this organization’s plans and already carried out results. This is amazing how society at first created impossible life for women and now results in solving this problem. NOW is a wonderful organization for all women in struggle to have a good life disregarding the circumstances. So, since “in 1960 America was the richest nation the world had ever seen” (Farber, 1994, p.8) then let’s keep it that way through giving those rights and opportunity that women truly deserve.
References
Rosen, R. (2006). The World Split Open: How the Modern Women’s Movement Changed America, Revised Edition. NY, New York: Penguin Books.
Farber, D. (1994). The Age of Great Dreams: America in the 1960s (American Century Series). NY, New York: Hill and Wang.
Barasko, M. (2004). Governing NOW: Grassroots Activism In The National Organization For Women. NY, new York: Cornell University Press.