New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

Shirley Chisolm. Chisholm was the first black woman elected to Congress, and made history in 1972 by running for president. She was also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Women’s Political Caucus.

Shirley Chisolm. Chisholm was the first black woman elected to Congress, and made history in 1972 by running for president. She was also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Women’s Political Caucus.

(Roger Higgins/World Telegram staff photographer/Public domain)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton [seated] and Susan B Anthony. Anthony was a prominent abolitionist and suffragist, and Stanton had hosted the Seneca Falls Convention and written the Declaration of Sentiments calling for equal rights for women. This duo first collaborated in 1851. They later edited and published a newspaper together and founded the National Woman Suffrage Association.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

Elizabeth Cady Stanton [sitting] and Susan B Anthony.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton [seated] and Susan B Anthony. Anthony was a prominent abolitionist and suffragist, and Stanton had hosted the Seneca Falls Convention and written the Declaration of Sentiments calling for equal rights for women. This duo first collaborated in 1851. They later edited and published a newspaper together and founded the National Woman Suffrage Association.

(United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division)

Eleanor Roosevelt. Roosevelt (pictured here with Shirley Temple) wasn’t just the first lady of New York and then the United States. She was a prominent activist who promoted women of all races, and a humanitarian who served as the American delegate to the United Nations after her husband’s death. She co-founded Americans for Democratic Action, the pre-eminent post-World War II liberal advocacy organization.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

Eleanor Roosevelt. Roosevelt (pictured here with Shirley Temple) wasn’t just the first lady of New York and then the United States. She was a prominent activist who promoted women of all races, and a humanitarian who served as the American delegate to the United Nations after her husband’s death. She co-founded Americans for Democratic Action, the pre-eminent post-World War II liberal advocacy organization.

(Public domain)

Gloria Steinem. Steinem was a columnist for New York magazine, where she covered an abortion speak-out in Greenwich Village in 1969. She later founded Ms. magazine. She also ran as a New York delegate for Shirley Chisholm in 1972.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

Gloria Steinem receiving a Minerva award during the California Women's Conference in 2008.

Gloria Steinem. Steinem was a columnist for New York magazine, where she covered an abortion speak-out in Greenwich Village in 1969. She later founded Ms. magazine. She also ran as a New York delegate for Shirley Chisholm in 1972.

(Krista Kennell/Shutterstock)

Bella Abzug. The outspoken feminist (pictured here with Mayor Ed Koch [left] and President Jimmy Carter in 1978) represented New York City in the House of Representatives, Bella Abzug nearly won the Democratic primary to become a senator. She also unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City. Famous for her outspokenness, she supported racial equality and opposed the Vietnam War.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

Congresswoman Bella Abzug and Mayor Ed Koch [left] meet with President Jimmy Carter in 1978

Bella Abzug. The outspoken feminist (pictured here with Mayor Ed Koch [left] and President Jimmy Carter in 1978) represented New York City in the House of Representatives, Bella Abzug nearly won the Democratic primary to become a senator. She also unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City. Famous for her outspokenness, she supported racial equality and opposed the Vietnam War.

(Public domain)

Mary Anne Krupsak. Krupsak (pictured here with New York City Mayor Ed Koch) was the first woman in New York to serve as lieutenant governor, under Gov. Hugh Carey from 1975 until 1978. She unsuccessfully ran against Carey in the 1978 primary.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

Mayor Ed Koch and Lt. Gov. Mary Anne Krupsak

Mary Anne Krupsak. Krupsak (pictured here with New York City Mayor Ed Koch) was the first woman in New York to serve as lieutenant governor, under Gov. Hugh Carey from 1975 until 1978. She unsuccessfully ran against Carey in the 1978 primary.

(Ron Frehm/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Geraldine Ferraro. The congresswoman from Queens was the first woman to serve as a major party vice-presidential nominee. She was on the Democratic ticket with Walter Mondale (pictured left) in 1984, which lost to incumbent President Ronald Reagan.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

Vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro [right] with presidential candidate Walter Mondale at a political rally in 1984.

Geraldine Ferraro. The congresswoman from Queens was the first woman to serve as a major party vice-presidential nominee. She was on the Democratic ticket with Walter Mondale (pictured left) in 1984, which lost to incumbent President Ronald Reagan.

(Warren K. Leffler/United States Library of Congress/Public Domain)

Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The notorious RBG is a Brooklyn native and an alumna of Cornell University and Columbia Law School. She has a long history of women’s rights advocacy, from co-founding the Women's Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union to her decisions on the U.S. Supreme Court, where she was the second female justice ever appointed.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, during confirmation hearings, U. S. Supreme Court. July 21, 1993

Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The notorious RBG is a Brooklyn native and an alumna of Cornell University and Columbia Law School. She has a long history of women’s rights advocacy, from co-founding the Women's Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union to her decisions on the U.S. Supreme Court, where she was the second female justice ever appointed.

(Rob Crandall/Shutterstock)

Hillary Clinton. Clinton went straight from serving as first lady to becoming the first woman to represent New York in the U.S. Senate. She was a senator in New York until 2008, then served as U.S. secretary of state. In 2016, she became the first woman to be nominated for president by a major party.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton marches in the New Castle Memorial Day Parade with Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2016.

Hillary Clinton. Clinton went straight from serving as first lady to becoming the first woman to represent New York in the U.S. Senate. She was a senator in New York until 2008, then served as U.S. secretary of state. In 2016, she became the first woman to be nominated for president by a major party.

(Philip Kamrass/Office of the Governor )

Christine Quinn. This self-described “qualified lesbian”, Quinn became the first female and first openly gay New York City Council speaker. She served as speaker from 2006 until 2013, and unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic mayoral nomination in 2013. She is now the CEO of Win, a nonprofit that helps homeless women and their children.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Christine Quinn. This self-described “qualified lesbian”, Quinn became the first female and first openly gay New York City Council speaker. She served as speaker from 2006 until 2013, and unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic mayoral nomination in 2013. She is now the CEO of Win, a nonprofit that helps homeless women and their children.

(William Alatriste for the New York City Council)

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

(William Alatriste for the New York City Council)

Sonia Sotomayor. Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, was born and raised in the Bronx. She was an attorney in New York and then a federal judge in the Southern District of New York and on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit before she was nominated by President Barack Obama to the Supreme Court.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

President Barack Obama talks with Justice Sonia Sotomayor prior to her investiture ceremony at the Supreme Court September 8, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Sonia Sotomayor. Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, was born and raised in the Bronx. She was an attorney in New York and then a federal judge in the Southern District of New York and on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit before she was nominated by President Barack Obama to the Supreme Court.

(Pete Souza/Official White House photo)

Elena Kagan. Kagan, the second woman nominated to the Supreme Court by Obama grew up in Manhattan. Prior to her Supreme Court appointment, she was the first female United States solicitor general and the first female dean of Harvard Law School.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Elena Kagan

Elena Kagan. Kagan, the second woman nominated to the Supreme Court by Obama grew up in Manhattan. Prior to her Supreme Court appointment, she was the first female United States solicitor general and the first female dean of Harvard Law School.

(Ash Carter/Public domain )

Melissa Mark-Viverito. Mark-Viverito became the first Latina to be elected New York City Council speaker in 2014. Now working at the Latino Victory Fund PAC, she has made electing more women to the council a priority.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito

Melissa Mark-Viverito. Mark-Viverito became the first Latina to be elected New York City Council speaker in 2014. Now working at the Latino Victory Fund PAC, she has made electing more women to the council a priority.

(William Alatriste for the New York City Council)

Letitia James. Public Advocates James is the first African-American woman to hold citywide elected office in New York City. If she is chosen as or wins the position of attorney general, she could be making history on the state level as well.

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

Letitia James being sworn in as New York City Public Advocate.

Letitia James. Public Advocates James is the first African-American woman to hold citywide elected office in New York City. If she is chosen as or wins the position of attorney general, she could be making history on the state level as well.

(Rob Bennett for the Office of Mayor Bill de Blasio)

New Yorkers who have led the women’s rights movement

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