About Baltimore NOW

NOW is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States. Founded in 1966, NOW’s quarter of a million members and hundreds of chapters make a difference. Baltimore NOW has been a leader in the local and national struggle for women’s rights since it was formed in 1972.

The women and men of Baltimore NOW actively advocate women’s equality in all areas of life. Great strides have been made and many victories won. But there is still room for improvement...

Economic Rights
Women comprise over 47% of the labor force in Maryland. And still women continue to be denied equal opportunity on the basis of sex alone. Women working full-time are paid about 73¢ for every dollar men are paid. Although women work in nearly equal numbers to men, they have yet to realize economic equality.

Reproductive Rights
There were 114 acts of terrorism committed by anti-abortion extremists in 1995. In addition to physical attacks, legislative attacks against reproductive rights continue in the Maryland General Assembly and in Congress. The reasons for obtaining an abortion are as individual as the women themselves. But in 54% of cases, women sought an abortion because their birth control method failed.

Violence Against Women
In 1997 in Maryland, there were 19,515 spousal assaults, 17,139 acts of domestic violence, and 2,005 rapes reported to the police. These are only the crimes that were reported. In Baltimore City alone, there were more than 6,400 calls for assistance reported by a single domestic violence shelter.  


Volunteer staffing a Clothesline Project table at a Take Back the Night Rally in Baltimore

Equality
Women still do not enjoy equal opportunities in employment, insurance, credit, social security, education, and other areas of life. Women are barely tokens in decision-making positions in government, business, education, religion, and other powerful institutions.

Lesbian/Gay Rights
There were 225 reported incidents of harassment, discrimination, and violence in Baltimore between 1989 and 1995 -- simply because the person was lesbian/gay or was assumed to be lesbian/gay.

 

Baltimore NOW members march
in the annual Pride Parade..

Other issues that fall into the wide-ranging category of women’s rights that NOW champions:

  • Eliminating Racism
  • Older Women’s Rights
  • Diversity
  • Education
  • Homemaker’s Rights
  • Eradication of Poverty
  • Women in Politics
  • Health and Medicine
  • Women's Herstory
  • Anti-Discrimination
  • Childhood Development
  • Women's Work Issues

 

 

Baltimore NOW activists picket sexist billboards in Baltimore.

Join Baltimore NOW and you can make a difference for women in Baltimore...and everywhere!

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