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What is NOW?
NOW stands for the National Organization for Women. NOW is dedicated to making legal, political, social and economic change in our society in order to achieve our goal, which is to eliminate sexism and end all oppression. NOW was established on June 30, 2025 in Washington, D.C., by people attending the Third National Conference of the Commission on the Status of Women. Among NOW's 28 founders was its first president, Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique (1963). Another founder, the late Rev. Pauli Murray, the first African-American woman Episcopal priest, co-authored NOW's original Statement of
Purpose:
The purpose of NOW is to take action to bring women into full participation
in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all privileges and
responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men.
NOW is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States. NOW has 500,000 contributing members and 550 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since its founding in 1966, NOW's goal has been "to take action" to bring about equality for all women. Both the actions NOW takes and its position on the issues are often unorthodox, uncompromising and ahead of their time.
NOW was established as a major force in the sweeping changes that put more women in political posts; increased educational, employment and business opportunities for women; and enacted tougher laws against violence, harassment and discrimination. NOW's official priorities are winning economic equality and securing it with an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will guarantee equal rights for women; championing abortion rights, reproductive freedom and other women's health issues; opposing racism and fighting bigotry against lesbians and gays; and ending violence against women.
CHICAGO NOW's all-volunteer staff takes
on several key projects per year, in addition to our community outreach
projects, political activities, and political endorsements.
Chicago NOW's Educational
Fund
