Introduction
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American organization created in 1966 to promote civil and legal rights for women. NOW’s mission is to take action to bring true equality for all women. The organization works to empower women and fight against discrimination and violence against women, as well as advocate for reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, and intersectional feminism (Tobias 56). The vision of NOW is to build a society in which all women and girls are liberated from sexism, racism, and oppression and enjoy the same opportunities, responsibilities, and rights as men.
Lobbying for and Passing Bills to Protect Women’s Rights
One of NOW’s key activities is lobbying for and passing bills to protect and advance women’s rights. NOW affiliates across the United States often act as advocates in state capitols to lobby for and pass laws and regulations that will benefit women. For example, NOW has been a significant advocate for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which guarantees legal equality for all women in the United States. Through their activism, NOW has shown how transnational feminism can be used to advance women’s rights by applying a global perspective to their work. This allows NOW to draw on the experiences of women worldwide to advocate for laws that can benefit women in the United States.
NOW has also lobbied for and passed legislation to protect women from workplace harassment and violence. In 1978, NOW helped pass the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against pregnant women (Tobias 56). The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which facilitates the issuance of restraining orders and funds assistance for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, was passed with the aid of NOW in 1994.
NOW has also successfully lobbied for legislation to ensure equal pay for women. In 2009, NOW successfully lobbied for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which made it easier for women to bring wage discrimination claims (Rajan 271). Besides, in 2018 NOW lobbied for the passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and make it easier for women to challenge wage discrimination in court (Mohanty 973). Overall, NOW has been a significant force in the fight for women’s rights. Through its lobbying efforts, NOW has successfully passed numerous legislation to protect and advance women’s rights, including the ERA, the Roe v. Wade decision, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the VAWA, and the Lilly Ledbetter.
Additionally, NOW is also working to pass legislation to ensure that women have access to contraceptive coverage and abortion services and to protect women from sexual harassment and assault. They are also pushing for the passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would close the gender wage gap by prohibiting employers from paying unequal wages to men and women who perform the same job. NOW also educates the public about women’s issues and advocates for greater gender equality. They are committed to working with lawmakers and the public to ensure that the rights of all women are protected.
Raising Awareness About the Issues Facing Women
NOW also works to raise awareness about the issues facing women worldwide. Through their website, NOW provides a platform for women’s organizations from around the world to share their stories. This allows NOW to draw attention to women’s unique challenges in different cultures and countries. For example, NOW has shared stories about the struggles of women in India and the fight for reproductive rights in the United States. This kind of awareness-raising is essential to transnational feminism, as it allows women from different countries to learn from each other’s experiences and to build solidarity across borders.
To raise awareness about these issues, NOW holds public events and works with other organizations to spread its message. They also use social media and other digital platforms to reach their audience. NOW also works to educate the public on the importance of gender equality, advocating for the rights of women and girls to have equal access to education, health care, economic opportunities, and other resources (Tobias 39). They also promote the inclusion of women in all levels of society, including in government, business, and the media.
In addition to these activities, NOW informs the public about existing and proposed legislation affecting women and girls. They work with policymakers to ensure that laws are in place to protect the rights of women and girls and that they have access to the same rights and opportunities as men. NOW also works to increase public awareness of the issues of gender-based violence and discrimination and to create an atmosphere of respect and understanding for women and girls in all aspects of life.
Conclusion
The National Organization for Women is vital in fighting for women’s rights. Through their advocacy work, NOW can use transnational feminism to advance women’s rights in the United States (Mason 66). They also use their platform to raise awareness about the issues facing women worldwide, which is key to building solidarity across borders. As a result, NOW is aiding in developing a society where all women and girls are liberated from oppression, racism, and sexism and have the same rights, obligations, and opportunities as men.
Works Cited
Mason, Corrinne L. “Transnational Feminism.” Feminist Issues: Race Class and Sexuality, 6th ed.; Mandell, N., Johnson, J., Eds, vol. 25, no. 2, 2017, pp. 62–89.
Mohanty, Chandra Talpade. “Transnational Feminist Crossings: On neoliberalism and radical critique.” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, vol. 38, no. 4, 2013, pp. 967-991.
Rajan, Hamsa. “The Ethics of Transnational Feminist Research and Activism: An Argument for a More Comprehensive View.” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, vol. 43, no.2, 2018, pp. 269–300.
Tobias, Sheila. Faces of feminism: An Activist’s Reflections on the Women’s Movement. Routledge, 2018.