What were the key historical events of feminism in 1963? What happened at the beginning of the so-called second wave of feminism that spread across the United States during the 1960s and 1970s? Were there signs of the imminent women's liberation movement?
Here is a list of a few important events that related to feminism in 1963:
- The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan was published. The classic book is often credited with creating massive awareness of women’s issues and bringing many people into the 1960s feminist movement.
- Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law by Adrienne Rich was published. The poems examined her experience and identity as a wife during the 1950s, among other topics.
- The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy.
- The President’s Commission on the Status of Women released its final report. This led to the establishment of a state Commission on the Status of Women at the local or state level in many U.S. states.
- Anna Arnold Hedgeman helped Martin Luther King, Jr. and other activists plan the March on Washington.