Rights of Women

The struggle to expunge all sex-based laws based on custom, stereotype and paternalism has been largely successful in this country. Sex discrimination has been banned, by federal and state law, in employment, education and housing. The right to abortion, while still under attack, is guaranteed by the Constitution. Paternalistic labor laws, that in the name of protecting women, served to keep them out of better paying jobs, have been abolished. As a result, women today participate in all realms of society on a more equal basis than ever before.

But legally sanctioned discrimination still persists. Women still earn far less than men for the same work. The "glass ceiling" is still a barrier to women's advancement in the workplace. Women are excluded from certain educational opportunities. And poor women are trapped in a cruel Catch 22: effectively denied their right to reproductive freedom through state laws that prohibit medicaid coverage for abortions, while at the same time punished for bearing children under new welfare reform laws.

The ACLU has argued more women's rights cases before the United States Supreme Court than any other organization. The ACLU was the first national organization to argue for abortion rights before the Supreme Court, and has been the principal defender of those rights since 1973, when the Court recognized the right to choose in Roe v. Wade.

The ACLU will continue our commitment to ensure that women are free to live and work as equals, with full personal control over their reproductive destinies. Use the resources on this page to learn more and take action to protect the rights guaranteed to all Americans by the Bill of Rights. Our latest news releases are listed to the left; actions you can take now are listed to the right, along with additional resources.

Background Documents and Reports

• January 30, 2004 >> Rights of Women Workers PDF
• February 14, 2002 >> The History of the ACLU Women's Right Project PDF

Press Releases

• February 5, 2007 >>ACLU Urges Wisconsin Court to Uphold Decision Allowing Discipline of Pharmacist Who Refused to Refill a Prescription for Birth Control Pills FULL STORY
• May 2, 2006 >> Women at Wisconsin’s Taycheedah Prison Suffer Medical Neglect and Receive Worse Mental Health Care Than Men Read the Complaint FULL STORY
• March 9, 2006 >> ACLU of Wisconsin Questions Proposed Sexual Discrimination at Arrowhead High School FULL STORY
• August 16, 2004>> ACLU Applauds Lautenschlager Contraceptive Equity Opinion. FULL STORY
• December 16, 2004>>ACLU Takes Action Against Marathon County Seeking Insurance
  Coverage of Employee's Birth Control Needs. FULL STORY