Numerous significant events contributed to the rise of women's independence, ushering in a contemporary shift in social values.
In the 1920's, after World War I, new avenues started to open up for young women in America. For example, The Flapper introduced a stylish and graceful fashion trend, featuring hats, dresses without waists that fell slightly above the knees, silk stockings, and trendy footwear.
On the employment front, the growth of the industrial economy generated a multitude of job opportunities in factories, offices, and emerging sectors.
The 60's were a pivotal time for feminism, introducing fresh ideals for women. The Federal Drug Administration sanctioned the first “Pill” for contraceptive use (1960), President John F. Kennedy enacted the “Commission on Status of Women” executive order (1961), and the “Equal Pay Act” was established (1963).
By 1970, Title IX of Education Amendments made discrimination in educational institutions illegal. In 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor became the first female Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1993, the Supreme Court ruled that workplace sexual harassment was against the law.
Ultimately, in 2005, Condoleezza Rice was appointed as the first black woman Secretary of State, and in 2017, Hillary Rodham Clinton made her bid for the U.S. Presidency.
