The Women’s Liberation movement arose in the 1970s in the wake of worldwide protests over the Vietnam War. The slogan on this badge infers that there is more to women’s rights and equality than becoming equal to men. Some in the women’s movement argued that a woman’s uniqueness, rather than her similarity to men, should be acknowledged.

Badge donor Diana Pittock describes her involvement in the women’s movement:

Women’s Rights was a strong focus of actions through the 70s and 80s. Feminism raised awareness for many women of the issues of their right to equality in many areas of life.

International Women’s Year in 1975 was a catalyst for women speaking out further. Calls for equal pay, women in parliament, women in leading roles in organisations, men sharing child care and household work, were some of the themes. Women’s studies courses, ‘Women and Labour’ conferences e.g. in July 1984 [and] women’s consciousness-raising groups were held. Women’s spirituality was important for some. Themes of women’s rights were expressed in rallies such as ‘Take Back the Night’ and other community actions in which I was involved. Words and humour were used well. I lived in the USA in the late 70s and visited there in subsequent years, occasionally attending women’s events. This badge I wore in San Francisco: Women’s Equality and Women’s Lives, 2 April 1989.