In 1964, a Southern congressman, Howard Smith, wanted to sabotage the Civil Rights Act going through Congress.
The Act outlawed employment discrimination on grounds of race, colour, religion or national origin.
- Smith jokingly suggested that ‘sex’ should be added, thinking to discredit the measure. But his amendment was adopted.
- Adding the word ‘sex’ to the ‘sex amendment’ of the Civil Rights Act ensured that women would have a remedy to fight employment discrimination just as minorities would be able to fight racial discrimination.
Women were quick to bring legal cases on the basis of the Act and it led to the formation of NOW in 1966.