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Unlock your guides8.3 Women's rights and the fight for gender equality
4 min read•august 14, 2024
The women's rights movement in New Mexico has been a long and ongoing struggle. From early suffragists fighting for voting rights to modern activists tackling issues like equal pay and , women have made significant strides towards equality.
Key legislation like the state Equal Rights Amendment and have bolstered gender equality. Notable figures like and have broken barriers in politics, paving the way for future generations of women leaders in New Mexico.
Women's Rights Movement in New Mexico
Early Suffrage and Voting Rights
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- Women's rights movement in New Mexico began in the late 19th century
- Early suffragists advocated for the right to vote and participate in politics
- New Mexico granted women the right to vote in state elections in 1914
- Became the 37th state to do so prior to the passage of the 19th Amendment
- in 1920 solidified women's voting rights
- Guaranteed voting rights for women in New Mexico and nationwide
Resurgence and Contemporary Issues
- Women's rights movement saw a resurgence in the 1960s and 1970s
- Focus on issues such as reproductive rights, equal pay, and
- passed in 1973
- Prohibited discrimination based on sex, providing legal foundation for gender equality
- Contemporary women's rights activists in New Mexico address ongoing challenges
- , domestic violence, and
- Continued fight for full gender equality in all aspects of society
Impact of Legislation on Gender Equality
State Legislation and Constitutional Amendments
- New Mexico Equal Rights Amendment (1973) enshrined gender equality in the state constitution
- Prohibited discrimination based on sex in employment, education, and other areas
- (1969) prohibits discrimination based on sex
- Applies to areas such as employment, housing, and public accommodations
- New Mexico Fair Pay for Women Act (2013) requires equal pay for equal work
- Prohibits retaliation against employees who discuss their wages
Reproductive Rights and LGBTQ+ Equality
- U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade (1973) legalized abortion nationwide
- Subsequent state legislation has sought to restrict access to reproductive healthcare in New Mexico
- New Mexico Supreme Court decision in (1999)
- Affirmed that the state constitution protects the right to abortion
- Provides stronger protections than federal law
- U.S. Supreme Court decision in (2015) legalized same-sex marriage nationwide
- Impacted LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality in New Mexico
Notable New Mexican Women's Contributions
Suffragists and Early Political Leaders
- (1852-1917), suffragist and early female public official
- One of the first women elected to public office in New Mexico
- Served as a school superintendent in Datil
- Nina Otero-Warren (1881-1965), suffragist, educator, and political trailblazer
- First female superintendent of public schools in Santa Fe County
- Ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1922
- (1890-1936), pioneering Hispanic woman in politics
- First Hispanic woman elected to statewide office in the United States
- Served as New Mexico's Secretary of State from 1923 to 1926
Legislators and Activists
- (1910-2006), groundbreaking legislator
- First Hispanic woman elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives (1941)
- Served as a role model for women in politics
- (1930-present), prominent labor leader and civil rights activist
- Co-founded the National Farmworkers Association (later United Farm Workers)
- Advocates for women's rights and labor rights
- Deb Haaland (1960-present), historic Native American leader
- One of the first Native American women elected to the U.S. Congress (2019)
- First Native American Cabinet secretary, serving as U.S. Secretary of the Interior (2021-present)
Women's Rights and Social Movements
Intersection with Racial and Ethnic Equality
- Women's rights movement closely tied to the struggle for racial and ethnic equality
- Women of color faced discrimination based on both gender and race
- Indigenous women advocate for their rights as women and as members of sovereign Native nations
- Address issues such as violence against Indigenous women and environmental justice
- fight for women's rights within the context of the Chicano civil rights movement
- Address issues such as labor rights, education, and political representation
LGBTQ+ Rights and Reproductive Justice
- LGBTQ+ activists work to advance gender equality and challenge binary gender norms
- Recognize the of gender identity, sexual orientation, and women's rights
- Reproductive rights movement intersects with women's rights
- Access to contraception and abortion seen as critical to women's autonomy and equality
- Women's labor rights championed by unions and workers' rights organizations
- Recognize the importance of fair wages and safe working conditions for women's economic empowerment
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