International Women's Year, 1977 November 26

Item — video: 3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Controversial national women's rights convention, Houston, Texas. 11:08.

Louise Degn's note: One of the most contentious social issues of 1970s was the role of women in society. The United Nations declared 1977 as International Women's Year (IWY). President Carter appointed a commission to plan a National Women's Conference in Houston, Texas, November 18 to 21, 1977, and to propose a National Plan of Action, which included controversial issues like abortion, sexual preference, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and day care. Leading up to Houston, each state held its own conference. Utah's erupted in controversy when the Mormon Church urged its women to attend in large numbers and resist passage of liberal social ideas. The mainly Mormon women elected their own slate of conservative delegates to the Houston meeting, while the organizers appointed its own slate of liberal members. Thus, two slates of Utah delegates, with opposing points of view, represented Utah: Elected (conservative) and Appointed (liberal).

Dates

1977 November 26

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