17 Facts About Judy Goldsmith

Judy Goldsmith was born on November 26,1938 and is an American feminist, academic, and activist.

Judy Goldsmith served as president of the National Organization for Women from 1982 to 1985, which is the largest feminist organization in the United States; prior to this she was an English professor.

Judy Goldsmith's father did not provide for the family and leaving her mother and five siblings to take care of themselves.

Judy Goldsmith received a master's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

When Judy Goldsmith went into the job market in 1950, there were numerous ads for men and minimal for women, putting women at a significant disadvantage for employment opportunities.

The ads, described by Judy Goldsmith, were geared towards women that read: "Needed: Attractive, Woman, Receptionist" for example.

Judy Goldsmith began her career as a college English professor at the University of Wisconsin and then became involved in NOW shortly thereafter.

Judy Goldsmith played a large role in the development of the state chapter and was later elected to be president of the state chapter.

In 1982, while Judy Goldsmith was head of NOW, the organization succeeded in increasing the number of women serving in state legislatures.

Judy Goldsmith advocated a more partisan direction for the formerly more inclusive NOW and adopted liberal positions on issues such as Reaganomics.

Judy Goldsmith believed that much discrimination had roots in economics and survival issues.

However, the other positions within the organization were not all filled by the slate that Judy Goldsmith headed, which therefore made it unclear how the voting delegates felt about Smeal's past leadership, as the executive vice president was won by an independent, attorney Barbara Timmer, who pledged a wider, more activist approach than Smeal's, and the secretary position was won by Kathy Webb, who was an independent.

When Smeal announced she was running in the 1985 election, she said that it was due to her belief that Judy Goldsmith was too moderate and did not focus on the issues that were important to herself.

Judy Goldsmith often met with politicians, and felt that progress could only be made when women were elected into political positions.

Judy Goldsmith sent a telegram to President Reagan, demanding an investigation, and then later called on President Reagan, when she received no response, by telling reporters how she felt during a White House pickett.

Judy Goldsmith believed in accomplishing NOW's goals through politics while Smeal felt rallies, demonstrations, and protests were the better method, illustrated when Smeal said "It's time to go back on the streets, go on the campuses and show we're the majority" in 1985.

Judy Goldsmith was the incumbent seeking her second term, and NOW presidents had traditionally served two consecutive two-year terms.