1975: Sex Discrimination Act comes into force
The Sex Discrimination Act and the Equal Pay Act came into effect on 29 December 1975.
Under the new legislation, it was illegal for employers, landlords, companies, schools and restaurants to discriminate based on sex or marital status.
The Act also prohibited job advertisements that offered positions exclusively to men or to women.
The Equal Opportunities Commission was set up under the Act, with a duty to promote equality of the sexes.