How far we’ve come! Progress builds slowly and unevenly. Examining what women have achieved over the past century helps us see the distance traveled and the work still ahead. Each law, ruling, or cultural shift began as something that once seemed out of reach. Many of the rights women have today were either unavailable to earlier generations or came with restrictions.
These changes did not come easily. Women organized, pushed for change, and challenged laws that limited their options, and what exists now is the result of steady, determined effort.
This timeline shows how much has shifted in just a few generations. Each entry includes how many years ago the milestone occurred, along with a reference to which family member may have experienced it, based on your age in 2025.
105 years ago: 1920
Women gain the right to vote nationwide
Your great-grandmother or great-great aunt may have been the first woman in your family to vote.
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1920. It made it illegal to deny someone the right to vote based on sex.
87 years ago: 1938
Women receive federal workplace protections
Your grandmother or great-aunt may have entered the workforce with these new protections in place.
The Fair Labor Standards Act established a national minimum wage, set limits on working hours, and restricted child labor. It applied to most industries and included protections for many women in the workforce.
69 years ago: 1956
First woman to lead a New York Stock Exchange member firm
Your mother or grandmother may have seen this reported in the news as she began building her own financial knowledge.
Josephine Perfect Bay became the first woman to serve as president and chairman of an NYSE member firm, A.M. Kidder & Co.
62 years ago: 1963
Equal Pay Act becomes law
Your mother or aunt may have started working under this new rule.
The Equal Pay Act made it illegal to pay men and women differently for performing the same job in the same workplace. The law remains in effect and serves as a foundation for ongoing efforts toward achieving wage equality. In 2025, new federal rules expanded enforcement in the public sector by limiting the use of prior salary data in hiring and pay decisions.
60 years ago: 1965
Married women gain legal access to birth control
Your mother or aunt may have made different family planning choices after this ruling.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Griswold v. Connecticut recognized a constitutional right to privacy in marital relationships, including the right to use birth control. This ruling laid the groundwork for broader reproductive rights.
53 years ago: 1972
First female CEO of a Fortune 500 company
Your mother may have been newly entering the workforce when this milestone occurred. Katharine Graham became the first woman to lead a Fortune 500 company when she took over The Washington Post Company.
52 years ago: 1973, 3 years ago: 2022
Roe v. Wade recognized, then reversed
Your mother or older relatives may remember the original ruling. You experienced its reversal.
In 1973, the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision recognized a constitutional right to access abortion. In 2022, that decision was overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Abortion is now regulated at the state level, with different laws and protections depending on where you live.
51 years ago: 1974
Women gain equal access to credit
Your mother may have opened a credit card or secured a loan for the first time without a male co-signer.
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act made it illegal to deny credit based on sex or marital status. This law provided women financial independence by granting access to loans, mortgages, and personal lines of credit.
44 years ago: 1981
First woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court
You may remember this moment from your childhood or teen years.
Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to serve as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Her confirmation represented a new level of visibility for women in the legal and public sectors.
39 years ago: 1986
All-male social clubs face new pressure
You may remember conversations about workplace access and professional equality during this period.
During the 1980s and into the 1990s, growing legal and corporate pressure led many all-male private clubs to begin admitting women. Inclusion in these spaces became essential for career advancement in law, finance, and business.
32 years ago: 1993
Marital rape becomes a crime in all 50 states
You were likely in high school, college, or early adulthood when this change was finalized.
By 1993, all 50 states had passed laws criminalizing rape within marriage, closing a longstanding legal gap and reinforcing that consent is required in all relationships.
25 years ago: 2000
First self-made female billionaire in the U.S.
You may remember the media coverage of this business milestone.
Martha Stewart became the first American woman to reach self-made billionaire status after her company went public.
16 years ago: 2009
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act becomes law
You may have already been working when this law passed.
This law clarified that the 180-day statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay lawsuit resets with each discriminatory paycheck. It strengthened workers’ ability to challenge pay disparities over time.
13 years ago: 2012
Milestones in corporate leadership and business wealth
You may have followed these announcements in business news or seen them celebrated as signs of change.
Mary T. Barra was named CEO of General Motors, making her the first woman to lead a Fortune 100 company. Also in 2012, Diane Hendricks built her wealth through ABC Supply and became the second American self-made female billionaire. That same year, Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, became the third. Blakely was also the youngest at the time she achieved it.
9 years ago: 2016
First woman nominated for U.S. President by a major political party
You likely remember this campaign and the national conversation it sparked.
Hillary Clinton became the first woman nominated for President by a major U.S. political party when she ran as the Democratic candidate in the 2016 election.
4 years ago: 2021
First woman Vice President sworn in
This is part of your current working life and adult awareness.
Kamala Harris became the first woman to serve as Vice President of the United States.
2 years ago: 2023
Record number of women serving in U.S. Congress
You may have noticed greater female representation in government and policy debates.
In 2023, a record 149 women served in the U.S. Congress. Women held more seats than ever before in both the House and Senate, reflecting steady gains in electoral representation.
1 year ago: 2024
Major advances in menopause care and workplace policies
You may have seen new benefits offered in your workplace or noticed broader conversations around women’s health.
Following years of advocacy, several major employers introduced menopause-related benefits, including paid leave, coverage for hormone therapy, and flexible scheduling. Public awareness of perimenopause and menopause grew, influencing health coverage and product development. Women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s have long been underserved, yet they continue to excel at work, navigate transitions, support their families, and drive cultural conversations.
Today
Recognizing the collective power of women in society and our collective part in it remains valuable. The rights, access, and societal norms we live with today often reflect decades of effort. Acknowledging that history can help guide us in choosing and supporting what comes next for women.
At Mavenhood Society, we aim to build on the progress made in 2024 by helping reframe how midlife is understood. We see this era as a time of clarity, momentum, and reinvention, worthy of recognition. A broader cultural shift in how society views and supports women in this chapter would begin with the general acceptance of mavenhood as a whole life stage, rather than a marker for the transition to menopause.
Seeing this stage as both transitional and key would influence research priorities, shape product development, inform workplace policies, and guide media representation.
We humbly request that you begin using the term ‘mavenhood’ to describe this powerful stage of life, as a small part of the ongoing effort to improve how women are viewed at this stage of life, by society and themselves. The more we claim it, the more the world will begin to recognize and respond to it. Let’s enhance the everyday choices available to women through increased visibility and expand the options for those who come after us.
