Betty Friedan co-founded NOW, becoming its first president.
On October 29, 1966, Betty Friedan co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW), marking a pivotal moment in American history as it became the first significant national women's rights organization formed since the 1920s. NOW was designed to advocate for equal employment opportunities, pay, and equality in many aspects of life. Friedan’s role was instrumental; as the organization’s first president, she helped set the agenda, shaping a broad coalition of activists intent on legal and institutional change. This founding was monumental in giving a unified voice to the women's movement in the United States.