Fight the Attacks Against Women - Fireworks Graphics Collective

Primary Artist: Terry Forman

Created: San Francisco Collective, 1977

Medium: Offset printed

Dimensions: 11″ x 17″

In 1975, the UN held its first international conference on the status of women in Mexico City and declared 1975–1985 the decade of women. The US government then established its own national commission which resulted in the National Conference on Women held in Houston in 1977. This is where the women’s movement split in three ways. There was a conservative counter conference which called for the end of abortion and allegiance to “traditional values” and against gay rights. The mainstream women’s movement called for the reforming of American politics and the inclusion of abortion and the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment. The radical women’s movement continued to rally for full reproductive freedom—and an end to sterilization abuse, gay and lesbian liberation and support for Third World people throughout the world.

Unfortunately the right-wing women’s movement proved to be very successful: the ERA has never been passed, abortion rights began to be whittled away and, in 2022 the federal right to abortion was denied and structural adjustment and the dismantling of the safety net has almost been completed.

Image: Angry woman, arms upraised, in center. Words dropped out of yellow background behind her. Block of black on bottom with words dropped out.

Words: FIGHT THE ATTACKS AGAINST WOMEN AND THIRD WORLD PEOPLES! VICTORY AT HOUSTON! International Women’s Year 1977.

Color: yellow and black ink on white paper

Event: Houston Women’s Conference.