Women's History - Bella Abzug

"Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over."
- Bella Abzug

Bella Abzug advocated for women's equality as a leader of the women's movement, serving in the House of Representatives for three terms and founding the non-profit grassroots political action organization Women USA.

She began practicing as a labor lawyer after being admitted to the New York Bar, but also specialized in cases dealing with civil rights and liberties.

When Abzug got elected to Congress as a defender of equality, she fought for women's rights, the environment, civil rights, civil liberties, and reproductive freedom. She co-wrote the Freedom of Information Act, which opened up federal agencies for the public. She also founded the National Women's Political Caucus -- a grassroots organization "dedicated to increasing women’s participation in the political process and creating a true women’s political power base to achieve equality for all women."

After leaving Congress, Abzug founded the Women's Environment & Development Organization, which advocates for women's equality in global policy, advocating at all levels of government and the United Nations. She also continued her work on environmental issues, presiding over the World Women's Congress for a Healthy Planet in 1991.

For more biographies in celebration of women's history month, click here.