Coterminous and Intersecting

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between the National Organization for Women (NOW) and CODEPINK, a women’s peace organization in 2004. NOW and CODEPINK both sought to mobilize women to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and also to fight against the threats to women’s rights that emerged from the policies of policies of the George W. Bush’s presidential administration. Using content analysis of e-mails sent to supporters and survey data from individuals at protests, I find that despite their overlapping agendas, there were significant differences in the two organization’s framing and tactical repertoires. CODEPINK drew upon individualistic maternalist framing and had a broad tactical repertoire. CODEPINK was able to draw women into protest in a way that resonated with popular cultural norms and recent women’s mobilizations. By contrast, NOW drew upon libera l, rights-based feminist framing that focused on legislative change and drew upon a narrow range of movement tactics. The article argues that rather than creating divisions and undermining collaboration, this diversity in women’s movements helps to foster a symbiotic relationship that mobilized diverse women. Taking a long historical view, I argue that this symbiosis is fundamental for the longevity and continued vitality of the U.S. women’s movement.