The Northwest Women's Studies Association organized in 1977, and became a regional arm of the National Women's Studies Association when the national branch was founded in 1978. The Northwest Women's Studies Association seeks to develop and support college-level women's studies programs, and also to improve the education of women. The organization attempts to involve feminist leaders not only in the academic world, but also within the community. The group is interested in feminist issues, as well how and where these issues intersect with class and race issues.

On April 26-29, 1984, the Northwest Women's Studies Association held a conference entitled "Holding Our Own and Breaking New Ground" at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. The event was coordinated by the Western Washington Branch of the Northwest Women's Studies Association, led by Chris Pastorino of Western Washington University's Women's Studies program, and Kathryn Anderson, head of Fairhaven College's Women's Studies program. The conference focused on the impact of conservative trends on feminism and women's studies during the 1980s. Along with many workshops relating to women's issues in health, work, and family, the conference program also included several keynote speakers, including Catharine Stimpson, LaDonna Harris, and Margaret Benston. Margie Adam, Linda Allen, and the band Motherlode also performed, and Judy Chicago's Birth Project was shown for the first time in the Northwest. As part of the conference, the Western States Project on Women in Curriculum held a pre-conference, as well as concurrent sessions on integrating women into college curriculum.