Judy Goldsmith
Encyclopedia
Judy Goldsmith is an American
feminist
academic and activist. She was President of the National Organization for Women
(NOW), largest feminist organization in the United States
, from 1982 to 1985, and prior to this was an English professor. She is also an Honorary Board member of the Veteran Feminists of America
, based in Phoenix
.
, where her divorced mother worked in factories for twenty-five years to support five children. After completing high school, she received a scholarship and went on to graduate from college.
Elected to lead NOW in 1982, it was under her leadership that NOW succeeded in increasing the number of women serving in state legislatures. She also advocated a more partisan direction for the formerly more inclusive NOW and took liberal positions on issues such as Reaganomics
. In 1982 Goldsmith and NOW controversially endorsed Frank Lautenberg
, the male, Democratic
Senate
opponent of New Jersey Republican
feminist Congresswoman Millicent Fenwick
, due to Fenwick's support of Reagan's economic agenda, despite her pro-women's rights stances. Lautenberg defeated Fenwick by a narrow margin. Goldsmith believed that much discrimination had roots in economics and survival issues. During her tenure she also worked with Coretta Scott-King on the 1983 March commemorating the 20th anniversary of the historic "March on Washington
" by Martin Luther King, Jr.
After her tenure as President of NOW, she served in various leadership positions, including Dean
of the University of Wisconsin–Fond du Lac, ultimately retiring in 2002, though she remains active even there after, and resides in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
. Today, the University awards the "Judy Goldsmith Young Woman Leadership Award" in her honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
academic and activist. She was President of the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
(NOW), largest feminist organization in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, from 1982 to 1985, and prior to this was an English professor. She is also an Honorary Board member of the Veteran Feminists of America
Veteran Feminists of America
Veteran Feminists of America is a non-profit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, for veterans of the Second Wave of the feminist movement...
, based in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
Early life and education
Goldsmith was born in WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, where her divorced mother worked in factories for twenty-five years to support five children. After completing high school, she received a scholarship and went on to graduate from college.
Career
She began her career as a college professor. Fifteen years later she became a leader in the National Organization for Women and moved to Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Elected to lead NOW in 1982, it was under her leadership that NOW succeeded in increasing the number of women serving in state legislatures. She also advocated a more partisan direction for the formerly more inclusive NOW and took liberal positions on issues such as Reaganomics
Reaganomics
Reaganomics refers to the economic policies promoted by the U.S. President Ronald Reagan during the 1980s, also known as supply-side economics and called trickle-down economics, particularly by critics...
. In 1982 Goldsmith and NOW controversially endorsed Frank Lautenberg
Frank Lautenberg
Frank Raleigh Lautenberg is the senior United States Senator from New Jersey and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.-Early life, career, and family:...
, the male, Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
opponent of New Jersey Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
feminist Congresswoman Millicent Fenwick
Millicent Fenwick
Millicent Hammond Fenwick was an American fashion editor, politician and diplomat. A four-term Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey, she entered politics late in life and was renowned for her energy and colorful enthusiasm...
, due to Fenwick's support of Reagan's economic agenda, despite her pro-women's rights stances. Lautenberg defeated Fenwick by a narrow margin. Goldsmith believed that much discrimination had roots in economics and survival issues. During her tenure she also worked with Coretta Scott-King on the 1983 March commemorating the 20th anniversary of the historic "March on Washington
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was the largest political rally for human rights in United States history and called for civil and economic rights for African Americans. It took place in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, August 28, 1963. Martin Luther King, Jr...
" by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
After her tenure as President of NOW, she served in various leadership positions, including Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the University of Wisconsin–Fond du Lac, ultimately retiring in 2002, though she remains active even there after, and resides in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The name is French for bottom of the lake, for it is located at the bottom of Lake Winnebago. The population was 42,203 at the 2000 census...
. Today, the University awards the "Judy Goldsmith Young Woman Leadership Award" in her honor.