1933 Frances Perkins, the first woman in a Presidential cabinet, serves as Secretary of Labor during the entire Roosevelt presidency. 1941 A massive government and industry media campaign persuades women to take jobs during the war. Almost 7 million women respond, 2 million as industrial "Rosie the Riveters" and 400,000 join the military. 1945 Women industrial workers begin to lose their jobs in large numbers to returning service men, although surveys show 80% want to continue working. 1957 The number of women and men voting is approximately equal for the first time. 1960 Women now earn only 60 cents for every dollar earned by men, a decline since 1955. Women of color earn only 42 cents. 1962 Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta form what will become the United Farm Workers 1963 The Equal Pay Act, proposed twenty years earlier, establishes equal pay for men and women performing the same job duties. It does not cover domestics, agricultural workers, executives, administrators or professionals. 1968 National Welfare Rights Organization is formed by activists such as Johnnie Tillmon and Etta Horm. They have 22,000 members by 1969, but are unable to survive as an organization past 1975. 1968 Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) is first Black woman elected to the US Congress. 1970 Women's wages fall to 59 cents for every dollar earned by men. Although nonwhite women earn even less, the gap is closing between white women and women of color. 1970 The Equal Rights Amendment is reintroduced into Congress. 1973 Billie Jean King scores an enormous victory for female athletes when she beats Bobby Riggs in "The tennis tournament watched by nearly 48,000,000 people." 1974 MANA, the Mexican-American Women's National Association, organizes as feminist activist organization. By 1990, MANA chapters operate in 16 states; members in 36. 1974 Hundreds of colleges are offering women's studies courses. Additionally, 230 women's centers on college campuses provide support services for women students. 1975 The first women's bank opens, in New York City. 1978 For the first time in history, more women than men enter college. 1981 At the request of women's organizations, President Carter proclaims the first "National Women's History Week," incorporating March 8, International Women's Day. 1981 Sandra Day O'Connor is the first woman ever appointed to the US Supreme Court. In 1993, she is joined by Ruth Bader Ginsberg. 1984 Geraldine Ferraro is the first woman vice-presidential candidate of a major political party (Democratic Party). 1990 The number of Black women in elective office has increased from 131 in 1970 to 1,950 in 1990. 1992 Women are now paid 71 cents for every dollar paid to men. The range is from 64 cents for working-class women to 77 cents for professional women with doctorates. Black women earned 65 cents, Latinas 54 cents. 1993 Take Our Daughters to Work Day debuts, designed to build girls self-esteem and open their eyes to a variety of careers. 2000 A national park is dedicated in California to honor women workers in World War II.
1941 A massive government and industry media campaign persuades women to take jobs during the war. Almost 7 million women respond, 2 million as industrial "Rosie the Riveters" and 400,000 join the military.
1945 Women industrial workers begin to lose their jobs in large numbers to returning service men, although surveys show 80% want to continue working.
1957 The number of women and men voting is approximately equal for the first time.
1960 Women now earn only 60 cents for every dollar earned by men, a decline since 1955. Women of color earn only 42 cents.
1962 Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta form what will become the United Farm Workers
1963 The Equal Pay Act, proposed twenty years earlier, establishes equal pay for men and women performing the same job duties. It does not cover domestics, agricultural workers, executives, administrators or professionals.
1968 National Welfare Rights Organization is formed by activists such as Johnnie Tillmon and Etta Horm. They have 22,000 members by 1969, but are unable to survive as an organization past 1975.
1968 Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) is first Black woman elected to the US Congress.
1970 Women's wages fall to 59 cents for every dollar earned by men. Although nonwhite women earn even less, the gap is closing between white women and women of color.
1970 The Equal Rights Amendment is reintroduced into Congress.
1973 Billie Jean King scores an enormous victory for female athletes when she beats Bobby Riggs in "The tennis tournament watched by nearly 48,000,000 people."
1974 MANA, the Mexican-American Women's National Association, organizes as feminist activist organization. By 1990, MANA chapters operate in 16 states; members in 36.
1974 Hundreds of colleges are offering women's studies courses. Additionally, 230 women's centers on college campuses provide support services for women students.
1975 The first women's bank opens, in New York City.
1978 For the first time in history, more women than men enter college.
1981 At the request of women's organizations, President Carter proclaims the first "National Women's History Week," incorporating March 8, International Women's Day.
1981 Sandra Day O'Connor is the first woman ever appointed to the US Supreme Court. In 1993, she is joined by Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
1984 Geraldine Ferraro is the first woman vice-presidential candidate of a major political party (Democratic Party).
1990 The number of Black women in elective office has increased from 131 in 1970 to 1,950 in 1990.
1992 Women are now paid 71 cents for every dollar paid to men. The range is from 64 cents for working-class women to 77 cents for professional women with doctorates. Black women earned 65 cents, Latinas 54 cents.
1993 Take Our Daughters to Work Day debuts, designed to build girls self-esteem and open their eyes to a variety of careers.
2000 A national park is dedicated in California to honor women workers in World War II.