Betty Friedan and other feminist leaders founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966. Many of the members had worked in the Civil Rights Movement and had referred to what they wanted from NOW as a kind of “NAACP, but for women.”
NOW set up task forces on issues of women’s equality. The seven original NOW task forces were:
1. Education
Education was one of the most important issues for the founders of NOW.
2. Equal Opportunity of Employment
This issue was central to the creation of NOW.
3. Legal and Political Rights
NOW has been at the forefront of many legal battles.
4. Women in Poverty
Members of NOW wanted to address the economic concerns of women.
5. Family
Family concerns have always been a part of feminism.
6. The Image of Women
Feminists paid a lot of attention to media portrayal of women.
7. Women and Religion
Several theologians took part in NOW and contributed to feminist theory.