Origins

Mexico City brochure, 1975. Houston Area NOW Collection.

The first international Women's Year Conference was held in Mexico City during June of 1975, as part of an effort by the United Nations to focus on women's issues. 1975 was declared International Women's Year, and as a direct consequence, United States President Ford created the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year. The 1977 National Women's Conference was a result of many events and conferences of the preceding years, as well as a change in the National Commission's leadership. This pamphlet from the Mexico City conference refers to the Plan of Action that was adopted during the conference and gives specific instructions for American women to take in order to further women's rights.

Background on the National Women's Conference & the IWY Commission, 1977. Laura Oren Papers.

Prior to the beginning of the National Women's Conference in November of 1977, the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year released this letter as a preface to the conference. The Commission drafted a "Background on the National Women's Conference and the IWY Commission" so that conference attendees and interested parties understood the path to and purpose of the conference in Houston. The document outlines State and Territory meetings that were held beginning in 1975 that helped draft resolutions and topics to be discussed on a national level, as well as the general goals of the state meetings and the National Women's Conference.

American Women on the Move pamphlet, 1977. Houston Area NOW Collection.

American Women on the Move was a pamphlet that called the women of America to move to action and attend the National Women's Conference, held in Houston, Texas, in November of 1977. This informational document was created by the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year in an effort to appeal to women for widespread participation. The document describes how state meetings had created a national agenda for the conference, and highlights individual issues that will be tackled there.

Three Hot Button Issues article, 1977. Houston Area NOW Collection.

Though TIME released this issue in December of 1977, after the conference had ended, this page prominently featured the three most contentious issues leading up to and discussed at the conference: the Equal Rights Amendment, abortion, and lesbian rights. Though many other documents that were printed prior to the conference discussed the need to vote on the ERA and on abortion, the need to discuss lesbian rights emerged from popular votes of 36 state conventions at the conference. This article gives a brief overview of these issues prior to the conference and reviews the propositions that emerged as a result of the conference.

ERA: The Tide is Turning!, 1977. Laura Oren Papers.

The January 1977 issue of the American Association of University Women Journal featured a "special four-page section" on the Equal Rights Amendment. On the front page, there is a call to remember the long road to women's rights and the need for more states to urge Congress to ratify the Amendment. It is clear from this document that university women were involved in the struggle for equality and in political activism: "Fifty-six years later, women still lack equal rights. Let AAUW demonstrate that women are agents of change. Achieve ERA ratification. Take part in this: Women's movement in American history!"

Lesbian Caucus Endorsement List, undated. Marjorie Randal National Women's Conference Collection.

This undated document, a list of Lesbian Caucus endorsements for National IWY Delegates, shows proof of the impending surge of activism for the demand of lesbian rights. The caucus endorsed 42 delegates out of 58 possible votes, displaying a majority population in favor of lesbian rights within this sub-group. Also listed are minority groups to which delegates belong, including "Lesbians," "Chicanas," "Blacks," and "Other Feminists." Many delegates are cross-listed as being endorsed by the Lesbian Caucus and belonging to a minority group, showing the intersectionality of the delegates present at the National Women's Conference in 1977.