NWLC Successes

The National Women's Law Center is proud to have been at the helm of landmark legal and public policy initiatives to expand the possibilities for women and their families for more than 35 years. A look at the Center's accomplishments shows that it’s possible to turn the promise of equality into reality — and that it’s possible to accomplish so much more.

It's possible to expand educational horizons for our daughters — from grade school to graduate school. The National Women's Law Center has been able to expand and confirm the protections of Title IX; level the playing field for female athletes in schools and colleges; broaden opportunities for girls to train for high-wage, high-skilled jobs; improve constitutional protections against government-sponsored sex discrimination; and more. Learn more about the Center's successes in education.

It's possible to stop employment discrimination — in pay, promotions, and benefits — and to open new job opportunities for women. The National Women's Law Center has led the way to gain passage of pregnancy discrimination legislation, secure a new damages remedy for women subjected to sexual harassment, establish and apply the legal principle that employers’ comprehensive prescription drug plans must include contraceptives, open new jobs for women in the military, strengthen interpretations of anti-discrimination laws, help win the first increase in the minimum wage in ten years, and more. Learn more about the Center's successes in employment.

It's possible to combat poverty and improve the economic security of all women and families. The National Women's Law Center has made a difference to bring the concerns of women and families to tax debates, increase the number of families actually claiming state and federal tax credits, pass the first comprehensive federal child care legislation since World War II, build a stronger Child Support Enforcement Program, secure changes to Social Security to make it more responsive to women and their families, expand access to public benefits and services, and more. Learn more about the Center's successes in family economic security.

It's possible to hold the government’s feet to the fire when women’s health and reproductive rights are at stake. The National Women's Law Center has fought to protect women’s access to health care; secure the FDA's approval of RU-486 for early medical abortion; expose, prevent, and redress refusals by pharmacists to dispense lawfully prescribed contraception; assist communities in fighting hospital and HMO mergers that threaten to eliminate reproductive health services; and more. Learn more about the Center's successes in women's health and reproductive rights.