Final answer:
NOW believed in promoting women's participation in all aspects of American life, securing the same rights enjoyed by men, and passing the Equal Rights Amendment. The organization sought to eradicate gender discrimination, establish child care centers, support educational initiatives, and address the disproportionate burden of domestic responsibilities on women.
Step-by-step explanation:
The National Organization for Women (NOW) believed that several social changes were necessary to enable women to enjoy equality and freedom. The core mission of NOW, articulated in part by its formation in 1966 and influenced deeply by Betty Friedan's seminal work, The Feminine Mystique, was to promote women's participation in all aspects of American life and secure the rights enjoyed by men. One of the pivotal goals of NOW was the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which sought to guarantee equal rights for women under the law.
Additionally, NOW tackled various pressing issues to eradicate gender discrimination and advocate for a multitude of women's causes. These included enforcement of gender equality provisions from the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the establishment of child care centers, development of educational programs, and addressing the 'second shift' phenomenon whereby women, despite working outside the home, were disproportionately burdened with housework and child care responsibilities. The concept 'the personal is political' became a rallying cry, underlining the political nature of these personal experiences and the importance of collective action for empowerment and systemic change.