History

• At the beginning of the 20th century women did not have the right to own property or vote. Since then, women have gained these rights, as well as greater rights over their own bodies--via legalized abortion and the birth control pill--and increased rights in the workplace via federal legislation. Women continue to face many challenges, however.
  
  

Types

• Today, womens' rights advocates are striving for equality specifically in areas including equal rights in the workforce, specifically in pay, health care and childcare; ensuring reproductive rights; and ending violence against women including sexual harassment and rape.
  
  

Ongoing Challenges

• According to the Domestic Violence Resource Center, one in five women is raped, physically or sexually assaulted in her lifetime. Similarly, according to the YWCA, although women make up more than half of the population in the U.S., they are still underrepresented in politics, and continue to make significantly less money then men.