National Organization For Women

The National Organization for Women (NOW) is a liberal feminist organization in the United States. NOW was founded in 1966. Its stated purpose—not necessarily its actual goal—is to take action to bring women into full participation in society — sharing equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities with men, while living free from discrimination.^[1]

NOW's Top Six Priority Issues[edit]

NOW's priority issues are as follows:^[2]

1. Advancing Reproductive Freedom - NOW supports access to abortion and birth control
2. Promoting Diversity & Ending Racism
3. Stopping Violence Against Women - NOW supports I-VAWA (International Violence Against Women Act, S. 2279).
4. Winning Lesbian Rights - NOW supports rights for Lesbians and equal marriage
5. Achieving Constitutional Equality - NOW supports the Women's Equality Amendment
6. Ensuring Economic Justice

NOW Opposes Shared Parenting After Divorce[edit]

NOW has been described as "the largest organized group fighting shared parenting legislation," along with divorce attorneys. "Using these scare tactics, NOW has blocked shared parenting bills in several states [in 2006], including New York and Michigan."^[3]

NOW and the MSM[edit]

"Tammy Bruce also noted how, as a NOW chapter president, any agenda she wanted was easily advanced by major newspapers.^[4]

MSNBC reporter and syndicated talk show host Tamron Hall participated in events for NOW.^[5]

I-VAWA[edit]

I-VAWA (International Violence Against Women Act, S. 2279). I-VAWA would create a new Office of Women's Global Initiatives that would control all foreign domestic-violence programs and funds in the Departments of State, Justice, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security.^[6]

Women's Equality Amendment[edit]

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) introduced the Women's Equality Amendment in 2007. Leaders from NOW, Feminist Majority, the National Council of Women's Organizations and other feminist groups united with members of Congress to launch the joint resolutions. Other members of Congress taking the lead on the new Women's Equality Amendment include: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas), Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.).^[7]

NOW vs Walmart[edit]

NOW has always been a leader in the fight against Wal-Mart and tells shoppers "that every dime spent at Wal-Mart hurts a woman somewhere in this world." ^[8]

References[edit]

External; Links[edit]

• http://www.now.org/ Official Website