National Organization for Women

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National Organization for Women

Abbreviation	NOW
Formation	June 30, 1966
Founder	Betty Friedan, Pauli Murray, Shirley Chisholm, Muriel Fox, Richard Graham
Type	Nonprofit organization
Purpose	Feminist advocacy
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Location	United States
Membership	500,000
President	Christian F. Nunes
Website	now.org

The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist organization founded in 1966. The organization consists of 500,000 members and 550 chapters in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. NOW is dedicated to advocating for women's rights and achieving full equality for women in all aspects of life.

History

NOW was established on June 30, 1966, by a group of feminists including Betty Friedan, Pauli Murray, Shirley Chisholm, Muriel Fox, and Richard Graham. The founding conference was held in Washington, D.C., and the organization was created in response to the lack of enforcement of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in relation to gender discrimination.

Goals and Objectives

NOW's primary goal is to promote feminism and advocate for the equal rights of women. The organization focuses on several key issues, including:

• Reproductive rights
• Economic justice
• Ending violence against women
• Racial justice
• LGBTQ+ rights
• Constitutional equality

Major Campaigns

NOW has been involved in numerous campaigns and initiatives over the years, including:

• The fight for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
• Advocacy for reproductive rights and access to abortion
• Campaigns against domestic violence and sexual assault
• Efforts to close the gender pay gap
• Support for LGBTQ+ rights

Structure and Leadership

NOW operates through a network of local chapters and state organizations. The national organization is governed by a board of directors and led by a president. The current president is Christian F. Nunes, who was elected in 2020.

Related Pages

• Feminism
• Women's rights
• Equal Rights Amendment
• Reproductive rights
• Gender pay gap
• LGBTQ+ rights
• Civil Rights Act of 1964

See Also

• Betty Friedan
• Pauli Murray
• Shirley Chisholm
• Muriel Fox
• Richard Graham (activist)

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