Welcome to Infinite Women

This Day In History

Activism

1966 Betty Friedan, author of 1963’s The Feminine Mystique, helps found the National Organization for Women (NOW), using, as the organization now states, “grassroots activism to promote feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate discrimination, and achieve and protect the equal rights of all women and girls in all aspects of social, political, and economic life.”

Arts

2015 Misty Copeland became the first African-American woman to be promoted to principal ballerina in 75-year history of American Ballet Theater. Copeland's achievement was groundbreaking, as there have been very few African-American principal ballerinas at major companies. Anne Benna Sims, who joined ABT in late 1978, was the first African-American danseuse and the first African-American soloist in the company's history.

Law

1982 The proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution expired, having failed to receive the required number of ratifications for its adoption, despite having its seven-year deadline extended by three years.

Writing

1915 Ina Coolbrith was named California's poet laureate, and she continued to write poetry for eight more years. Called the "Sweet Singer of California", she was the first California Poet Laureate, as well as the first poet laureate of any U.S. state.