The National Women's Conference:
Taking 1977 into the 21st Century
Sponsored in part by the John P. McGovern Endowed Lectureship in Family, Health and Human Values
Historical Overview
This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the National Women鈥檚 Conference held November 18-21, 1977. At this momentous event, 2,000 elected delegates and around 32,000 observers descended upon Houston, Texas, to participate in the first and only federally funded National Women鈥檚 Conference in U.S. history. Hosted in a Sunbelt city on the rise, this conference was the domestic answer to the United Nations鈥� International Women鈥檚 Year official conference and NGO tribune held in Mexico City in 1975. The Houston Conference reflected the tensions of a nation at a crossroad with some seeing it as a promising expression of a more representative, rights-centered democracy and others viewing it as a liberal cooptation of taxpayers鈥� dollars.
The conference remains one of the most imaginative and wide-ranging exercises in civic engagement realized in the twentieth century, and we seek to draw attention to the diversity, ingenuity, and determination of participants who dared to dream up concrete policy goals of 鈥渨hat women want.鈥� We expect to carry on the conversation in Houston once again this fall, looking forward to the challenges women face in the early twenty-first century as we reflect on past successes and failures.
To learn more about the National Women's Conference that took place in 1977, read the report here.
We invite you to return to Houston, Texas and take stock of this historic gathering.
In honor of this moment the 91视频 is hosting a two-day conference, November 6-7 bringing together former participants and dynamic scholars.
You are also invited to participate in a series of community activities around Houston, brought to you by the Houston Women March the weekend of November 3-5. Join women across the city as we unite in the name of equality.
Conference Highlights
Community Rally Events
Nov 3-5
Reignite "The Spirit of Houston"
National Women's Conference
Nov 6-7
All events at the 91视频 are FREE
and open to the public.
Conference Schedule >
Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts
Nov 6-7
Go Forth From Houston: Women in the Arts Take Action
Contemporary Art Exhibit ongoing both days & Closing Reception and send off Tuesday evening
Conference Schedule
Registration
Local Accomodations
Events around town
View 1977 Report- Cafe Lounge
- Writing Center, Room 238
- Waldorf-Astoria Ballroom, North Wing, Second floor
Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Art >
- Third Space Gallery
- The Grove, The Arts District Courtyard
- Wilhelmina Grove (in-between School of Art and School of Music Buildings)
- Digital Research Commons
- Evans Room
- Rockwell Pavilion
- Special Collections
- Ball Room East and West, Room 210
- Bayou City, Room 219
- Midtown, Room 262
- Space City, Room 214
- Skyline, Room 223