NOW condemns the racism that inflicts a double burden of race and sex discrimination on women of color. Seeing human rights as indivisible, we are committed to identifying and fighting against those barriers to equality and justice that are imposed by racism. A leader in the struggle for civil rights since its inception in 1966, NOW is committed to diversifying our movement, and we continue to fight for equal opportunities for women of color in all areas including employment, education and reproductive rights. NOW’s Combatting Racism Committee is working to encourage growth at all levels within NOW of multiracial task forces to combat racism.
Blog
The “G” Word Isn’t for You: How “Gypsy” Erases Romani Women
By Naomi P., Communications Intern Being an ethnically ambiguous person comes with a lot of privileges; however, answering the constant questions about my identity is not one them. Like many other exoticized women, I am asked on an almost daily basis:… Read more »
Growing up Bilingual
By Roxanna Gutierrez, President’s Office Intern Today I was remembering some of my childhood memories from elementary school; specifically, I remembered how embarrassed I used to get when I would mispronounce a word in English. First, I would blush and… Read more »
Whitewashed Out: “Ghost in the Shell” and Hollywood’s Problem with Whitewashing Asian Characters
By Andrea Rose, Field Organizing Intern To my disappointment, but not to my surprise, another white actress is playing an Asian character in a major Hollywood film. In April of this year, we got our first glimpse of Scarlett Johansson in costume for th… Read more »
Allies in Equality—Him and Her for Each Other
By Leora Lihach, President’s Office Intern As the millennial generation begins to take center stage in the world, the feminist movement is at risk of severely slowing down. Too many young adults believe that feminism is off-limits to men and a dangerou… Read more »
News
Trump’s Racist Tweets Prompt Foundations to Speak Out
But Toni Van Pelt, president of the National Organization for Women, didn’t shy away from coming out swinging and naming names. “Donald Trump’s racist attacks on Rep. Elijah Cummings and his hateful comments about Baltimore reveal his craven political… Read more »
Read moreAdvocacy Groups On the Importance of Celebrating Juneteenth
This important date still receives little attention—and often outright hostility—from those outside the Black community. School textbooks identify the Emancipation Proclamation as ending slavery, ignoring that it persisted for years in some regions. The relative obscurity of Juneteenth in our national dialogue serves as a reminder that White supremacy is still entrenched in how Americans understand our history—and its impact on the present.
Read moreOn International Women’s Day, NOW Celebrates the Courage, Commitment and Accomplishments of Feminists Around the World
WASHINGTON – We observe International Women’s Day on March 8, paying tribute to women’s achievements and the ongoing campaign for equality. Although women of the world may be separated by language, geography, and culture, we are united in activism and… Read more »
Read moreWhen We March For Black Women, We March Towards True Equality
As feminists we support the march because the oppression of one group — or a number of groups — halts progress for all.
Read moreResources
A Million Thanks to Organizers and Marchers – Women Made History!
Printable PDF A Million Thanks to Organizers and Marchers – Women Made History! January 24, 2017 NOW activists are still thrilled and energized by the overwhelming turnout – not only for the Women’s March on Washington – but the impressive marches that… Read more »
ISSUE ADVISORY: Voter Suppression on Steroids for 2016 Elections
Mary Lou Miller was 7 years old when the 19th Amendment was passed. She made a promise to herself to take full advantage of her right to vote, and vote she did, from 1934 onward. Yet just last year, Miller, now 101 years old, was denied the right to vote because she lacked a government issued ID, a requirement under Texas’s new voting laws.
Issue Advisory: Restoring Democracy – Court Ruling Approves Independent Commissions to Counter Gerrymandering
In 1989, NOW members at the National NOW Conference adopted a resolution calling for “direct and equal representation for women in elected office and at all levels of government.” It reminded readers at the time that only five percent of the members of Congress and 17 percent of members of state legislatures were women. The resolution resolved that the goal of equal representation for women can only be accomplished by “pursuing legal strategies which challenge reapportionment plans for gender and racial bias” and “requiring redistricting guidelines that make gender balance and increasing representation of women a priority.”
Issue Advisory – A Look Ahead: Important Upcoming Supreme Court Cases
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider a number of high profile cases this term – cases that cover a broad swath of American life, from access to reproductive health care, to affirmative action, public sector unions, voting rights, and (again) contraceptive insurance coverage exceptions under of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).