Embedded Files
Research by Emily Anderson
June 17-19, 1977 at the University of Southern California
June 17-19, 1977 at the University of Southern California
California women gathered to elect 96 delegates and 5 alternates as well as debate 46 resolutions to represent their interests at the National Women's Conference in Houston, Texas.
January 9, 1975
January 9, 1975
President Gerald Ford establishes a National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year.
President Gerald Ford establishes a National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year.
June 19 - July 2, 1975
June 19 - July 2, 1975
The National Commission represents the United States at the International Women's Year Conference in Mexico City.
Dec. 1975: Congress grants the Commission
Dec. 1975: Congress grants the Commission
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
for 56 state/territory conferences & 1 national conference
______________________________
______________________________
What was the goal?
What was the goal?
By encouraging women of all ethnic, religious, socioeconomic & family backgrounds to attend the California State Meeting, organizers hoped to send a delegation that accurately represented the needs of California women.
Big meetings meant big news...
Big meetings meant big news...
Who made the headlines?
Who made the headlines?
As states held individual meetings, political tensions grew nationally over the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), abortion rights & lesbian rights. Women led political groups on both sides of the issues & impacted International Women's Year on both the state, territorial & national level.
Unidentified Photographer, “Anita Bryant Billboard 1971”, 1971 World Records
Warren K. Leffler, “Activist Phyllis Schlafly wearing a ‘Stop ERA’ Badge”, 1977 Prints and Photographs DivisionLibrary of Congress
Warren K. Leffler, “Bella Abzug at press conference”, 1971 Prints and Photographs DivisionLibrary of Congress
The San Diego Union Tribune, “California State Meeting Report pg. 195”, 1977 The Smithsonian
Anita Bryant
Anita Bryant
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative activist Anita Bryant launched the “Save our Children” campaign to protest gay rights; rumors that she would attend the State Meeting mobilized lesbian activists.
Phyllis Schlafly
Phyllis Schlafly
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly founded “Stop E.R.A.” and hosted a counter- protest at the Houston Astrodome during the 1977 National Women’s Conference.
Bella Abzug
Bella Abzug
Progressive
Progressive
Prominent activist & congresswoman Bella Abzug served as co-chair for the 1977 national women’s conference & played a visible role in the political battle over the E.R.A.
Sally Martinez
Sally Martinez
Progressive
Progressive
Sally Martinez served as co-chairwomen of the California State Meeting & delivered the keynote speech; she publicly addressed conservative backlash.
In California
In California
February 12, 1977
February 12, 1977
Los Angeles, CA
First Coordinating Committee meeting; conference site & committee chairs selected.
March 12, 1977
March 12, 1977
San Francisco, CA
Second Coordinating Committee meeting; budget & staffing confirmed.
April 30, 1977
April 30, 1977
San Diego, CA
Third Coordinating Committee meeting; voting procedures & sub-committees determined.
May 2, 1977
May 2, 1977
Activist Caffie Green demands better representation of Black women from Bella Abzug & Sally Martinez.
May 21, 1977
May 21, 1977
Irvine, CA
Coordinating Committee hosts a mini conference at University of California, Irvine.
June 4, 1977
June 4, 1977
Sacramento, CA
Fourth Coordinating Committee meeting; list of nominations confirmed; new rules adopted to better represent Black women.
$100,000
$100,000
was allocated for the CA State Meeting out of the total $5,000,000 budget
"Black women were excluded from the beginning..." - anonymous commentary on the execution of the CA State Meeting
1,300
1,300
people applied to be delegates
Friday, June 17, 1977
Friday, June 17, 1977
8:oo am
8:oo am
Opening Plenary Session
Opening Plenary Session
Introduction of coordinating committee members
Committee agrees to follow Robert's Rules of Order (usual parliamentary procedures used to govern meetings)
Nomination Committee presents official slate approved by the Coordinating Committee
41 women are nominated from the floor
*free childcare
was provided to attendees*
5,000 +
5,000 +
people attended the
people attended the
CA State Meeting
CA State Meeting
9:oo am
9:oo am
Instructions for workshops
Instructions for workshops
Delivered by Joanna Townsend
Unknown Artist, “Anita Bryant Sucks Oranges Button”, 1977
Creative Commons
Lesbian activists wore these pins to protest Anita Bryants anti-gay "Save Our Children" campaign, after rumors swirled that she might attend the CA State Meeting.
1:oo pm
1:oo pm
Quality of Life & Role Choices Panel
Quality of Life & Role Choices Panel
Moderated by: Dorothy M. Tucker
Topics: Non-traditional jobs, management & childcare
6:oo pm
6:oo pm
Lesbian Caucus Meets
Lesbian Caucus Meets
Responding to rumors Anita Bryant may attend, lesbian & gay activists arrived to the meeting in unexpectedly high numbers
Conservatives complained the high turnout of gay and lesbian activists skewed the electoral demographics
"If straight women are as concerned about their welfare, they should come out in the numbers that the gay community did."
"If straight women are as concerned about their welfare, they should come out in the numbers that the gay community did."
Sally Martinez
"IWY Confab over but debate lingers," The Independent (Long Beach), June 26, 1977
Saturday, June 18, 1977
Saturday, June 18, 1977
Suzanne Paizes, “The California State Meeting Report pg. 72”, 1977
The Smithsonian
8:oo am
8:oo am
Disabled women speak out about inaccessibility at the conference
Lack of resources in Braille
Disabled people were not considered in advertising/outreach efforts
Coordinating committee overviews voting process for delegates
9:oo am
9:oo am
World of Criminal Justice & Violence Panel
World of Criminal Justice & Violence Panel
Moderated by: Dina Iguchi
Topics: domestic abuse, rape, decriminalization of prostitution, alcoholism & juvenile justice
Suzanne Paizes, “The California State Meeting Report pg. 71”, 1977
The Smithsonian
1:oo pm
1:oo pm
Afternoon Session
Afternoon Session
Keynote Speech by Tish Sommers
1:oo pm
1:oo pm
World of Politics Panel
World of Politics Panel
Moderated by: Vivian Hall
Topics: minority women in politics, campaign finance, grass-roots organizing & lobbying techniques
2:oo pm
2:oo pm
Women in an Interdependent World Panel
Women in an Interdependent World Panel
Moderated by: IWY Interdependence Committee
Topics: women's activities in Asia, Africa & Latin America; how American women can have a greater voice in U.S. foreign policy
Sunday, June 19, 1977
Sunday, June 19, 1977
Suzanne Paizes, “The California State Meeting Report pg. 67”, 1977 The Smithsonian
8:oo am
8:oo am
Opening statement: Margaret Wilkerson
Coordinators address grievances & clarify the voting process
Resolutions are discussed, condensed & voted on
4:oo pm
4:oo pm
Polls close
"We are here to prove the women of California can be unified." - Margaret Wilkerson
"We are here to prove the women of California can be unified." - Margaret Wilkerson
"Hard Work, Hard Talk," Los Angeles Times, June 21, 1977
The official list of delegates & alternates from CA ↑
What did CA women want?
What did CA women want?
44 Resolutions were passed...
Equitable representation in the media
Rights for Latina women
Rights for lesbian women
Rights for Indigenous women
Equal opportunities in education and employment
2 Resolutions were defeated....
A resolution against government-funded childcare
A resolution continuing the division of economic labor as it stood, in which women did not receive compensation for housework & did not often labor outside the home
"WHEREAS social attitudes, textbooks, television, movies, radio and every facet of American life reinforce sexism;
WHEREAS the Department of Health, Education and Welfare is slow to respond to Title IX complaints;
WHEREAS no federal funds have been allocated to implement Title IX (nor have any been withdrawn from those who do not comply with the law);
RESOLVED that the California IWY Conference support the active implementation of Title IX...
RESOLVED that a Citizen's Advisory Committee to monitor Title IX compliance be created at every school site, college & university..." - Resolutions Committee
The Aftermath
The Aftermath
July 6, 1977
July 6, 1977
Anti-Equal Right's Amendment women hold a conference in Newport Beach, CA organized by Mary Schmitz of the conservative Citizens Review Committee.
Conservative women felt they were under-represented in California's delegation & resolutions.
"... the conference, with its feminist emphasis was misnamed. IWY more appropriately stands for 'International Weirdos Year.'"
"... the conference, with its feminist emphasis was misnamed. IWY more appropriately stands for 'International Weirdos Year.'"
Mrs. Paul Laubacher
Mrs. Paul Laubacher
"Letters," The Los Angeles Times, July 1, 1977
July 13, 1977
July 13, 1977
Senator Jesse Helms (R.-NC) claims the CA State Meeting:
alienated conservative women by taking place on Father's Day
misappropriated $5 million budget
misrepresented CA women
Helms calls for an investigation
Critics of the California State Meeting:
Critics of the California State Meeting:
Phyllis Schlafly: founder of Stop E.R.A.
Lupe Jamison: VP of Alliance for Life
Anita Bryant: anti-gay activist
Representatives of the Mormon Church
The aftermath extended to other state meetings
The aftermath extended to other state meetings
Washington
Washington
Conservative attendees defeated a pro-E.RA. resolution & a minority rights resolution
Mississippi
Mississippi
Elected an all-white delegation
Coordinators rectified the imbalance by electing delegates at large including feminist author Betty Friedan
Alabama
20/24 elected delegates did not support the E.R.A.
New York
Successfully passed a pro-E.R.A. resolution, despite conservative opposition
Diana Mara Henry, “Delegates Voting”, 1977
Diana Mara Henry Papers, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Women in New York State (pictured) voted for a progressive delegation, despite conservative backlash across the country.
"The women's movement all over the world is alive & growing. I can't think of anything more exciting than sharing in the growth."
Helen McCannon, who spent her 67th birthday at the CA State Meeting
Copyright Diana Mara Henry, 1977.
Check out this presentation on the California State Meeting given at the Western Association of Women Historians 2022 Annual Summit.
Check out this presentation on the California State Meeting given at the Western Association of Women Historians 2022 Annual Summit.
Sources:
Sources:
“International Women’s Year: California State Meeting, Final Report to the National Commission on the Observance of International
Women’s Year” June 1977, p. 6, box 1, folder: California, National Commission on the Observance of International Women’s Year Records, 1975-1978, Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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