THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

Anita Ladewig

January 6, 1929 – October 17, 2022

“NOW is interested in changing laws for a positive effect on the community. When we talk action, we mean a different kind of action than do other feminist groups. NOW’s primary objective is to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society…toward a fully equal partnership of the sexes.” – Anita Ladewig, Chapter President, San Francisco NOW, July 1969

Educator and activist. Joined Northern California NOW shortly after it was founded and served as president in 1968 when NOW protested the exclusion of women as astronauts in the space program. Initiated a six-month correspondence with NASA and protested using the names of masculine gods for spaceships. Helped to successfully integrated the Squire Room, the men’s restaurant at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco,1969. Introduced the ERA to the San Francisco area in 1968, where she gave speeches, organized demonstrations and picketed two San Francisco newspapers.