I was fortunate to grow up during a time when the world was changing dramatically for women – for the better!
Although many were involved, one woman in particular, left her mark on me.
If you don’t know anything about Bella Abzug, the late NYC Congresswoman and feminist leader, please read this.
Women owe her a debt of gratitude for everything she sacrificed and accomplished for the betterment of women in our society.
The Times They Are A Changing
Growing up in 60s and 70s, I witnessed many historic events; some happy, some tragic. Everything from the Beatles coming to America, Woodstock and the first moon walk to the assassination of great leaders, Nixon’s resignation, and the never-ending Vietnam War.
These were tumultuous times and there were tremendous social changes taking place – especially for women.
Women’s Rights
The women’s rights movement started in the U.S. at the beginning of the 20th century when women tirelessly fought for legal rights, most importantly, the right to vote.
The second wave of the women’s rights movement began to percolate in the 60s and became a full-force movement in the 70s.
I Am Woman Hear Me Roar
A group of incredible women were part of this movement including Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, Angela Davis, Shirley Chisholm, and one of my childhood idols, Bella Abzug, who was a force of nature!
You couldn’t miss her; she was always wearing a hat. She was loud and outspoken – and didn’t care! She earned several nicknames over the course of her career including Hurricane Bella, Battling Bella and Mother Courage.
Her credentials are impressive by any standards but for a woman of that era, almost unthinkable!
Born to Lead
She started her career as an activist when she was just 11 years old, recruited by her Hebrew school teacher to raise money for the Holy Land which she did by giving speeches at NYC subway stations.
She started her career in politics early as well; she was elected the student body president of her high school and student council president at Hunter College, where she was a political science major.
Prepare to Launch
After being turned down by Harvard Law School because she was a woman (Harvard did not admit women until 1952), she accepted a full scholarship to Columbia Law School where she became the Editor of the Law Review – and met her future husband, Martin.
Marriage and Career
Bella and Martin married after he returned from the war in 1944. A staunch supporter of her aspirations, Martin never asked her to choose between being a wife/mother and her career. In fact, he typed many of her early briefs for her, because she did not know how to type!
She joined a law firm specializing in labor issues and represented the United Auto Workers Union. Having a hard time being heard in the sea of men, she started wearing hats to draw attention to herself!
Hanging Out Her Own Shingle
By the 1950s, she opened her own law firm specializing in defending those accused of being communists during the Joseph McCarthy “witch hunts.”
She also took on the controversial case of Willie McGee, a black man accused of raping, a white woman with whom he was having a consensual relationship.
She appealed his case to the Supreme Court and won two stays of execution by citing that “Negroes were systematically excluded from jury service.”
Unfortunately, at the third trial and conviction, all appeals were denied. At great personal risk, she traveled to Mississippi for a special hearing at the governor’s office. She was pregnant and unable to get a hotel room in Jackson or even a cab to take her anywhere.
After sleeping in the bus station that night, she argued his case in court for six hours the next day.
Unfortunately, she lost the case and he was sentenced to death, and eventually executed. And tragically, Bella lost the baby.
Mobilizing Women
In 1961, Bella and a group of her associates from Hunter College formed the organization Women Strike for Peace. Over the next 10 years they lobbied for a nuclear test ban treaty and opposed the war in Southeast Asia.
By 1970 she was encouraged by her colleagues to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. Running on a women’s rights/peace platform, her campaign slogan was
This woman’s place is in the House – the House of Representatives.
She was re-elected for three terms!
While in office, Bella served on the Committee on Public Works and Transportation. She brought millions of dollars to New York State in economic development and mass transit – including ramps for people with disabilities and buses for the elderly.
Bella also served as the Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Government Information and Individual Rights. In that role she wrote key pieces of legislation including the Freedom of Information Act, and the Right to Privacy Act.
In 1971, Bella cofounded the National Women’s Political Caucus with Gloria Steinem and Shirley Chisholm. Their charter was to increase the participation of women in government.
Bella also served as the Chief Strategist for the Democratic Women’s Committee, working to ensure women would have equal representation in all elective and appointed posts, including political conventions.
Bella wrote the first law that banned discrimination against women in obtaining credit, credit cards, loans, and mortgages. She introduced bills advocating for child care, Social Security for homemakers, birth control and abortion rights. She introduced an amendment to the Civil Rights Act to include gay and lesbian rights.
In 1976 she ran for the New York State Senate, however, she was defeated by Daniel Patrick Moynihan – by less than 1% (can you imagine if that happened now?).
Not one to let anything slow her down, in 1977 Bella became the first woman to run for Mayor of New York City, defeated by another colorful politician, Ed Koch.
Bella was chosen by President Carter to serve as Chairwoman of the National Women’s Advisory Council. She hosted the first National Conference on Women, attended by over 20,000 delegates nationally.
Later Years
In the latter years of her life, she co-founded the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), an international agency working to achieve full economic rights and equal representation for women. Bella led WEDO until her death at age 77, in 1998.
One of her two daughters, Liz, carries on her work, having founded the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute, to mentor young women.
In her honor, Bank Street, in NYC’s, Greenwich Village (part of her former congressional district) was named Bella Abzug Way.
Everywhere she went, Bella left her mark: on NYC, our country, women’s rights, and, this once-little girl from Brooklyn.
Learn More About Bella Abzug
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Wonderful and inspirational nod to a one of a kind whirling dervish of a woman ! Not a moment of her life was wasted , she had purpose at every turn of her life ! Thank you for throwing light on this exceptional person .We owe her props for paving a path as an example of sheer determination .
Thank you! I was in awe of her when I was a child. A force of nature not to be reckoned with.
Inspiring life story. Giving speeches at 11 years old to raise money for a passionate cause, amazing.
Thank you! She truly is an inspiration. She made young women at the time feel that they could do anything.
Wow…I knew absolutely nothing about her. What a great story about a remarkable woman.
She’s from a trailblazer from a different generation and it’s important that young women today understand the contributions she made to women’s rights. Thank you for reading and your comment.