kennedy social change

• Antidepressants increased within housewives
• eighteen states refused to allow female jurors
• Women were the majority of teachers but only 10% were principles, 7 doctors and 3% lawyers
• The National Women's Party (established in 1916) was still active and demanded an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to help women in employment and education
• The Kennedy administration's establishment of the Commission on the Status of Women rejected feminist demands
• Betty Friedan, the "mother of modern feminism", wrote "The Feminine Mystique" in 1963 wanting to fulfil their potential through education and work, which she labelled "the problem that has no name"
• The Equal Pay Act of 1963 made it illegal for unequal pay and was an example of Kennedy using executive powers to increase the minimum wage from $1 to $1.25
• In 1964, only 33% of SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) members were women, despite their pro-women stance, and they faced male ridicule and contempt of gender inequality
• SNCC, CORE and the Student Peace Union wanted political and social change, liberating the poor and minorities, and supporting a peaceful foreign policy
• Economic and racial equality was emphasised along with a peaceful foreign policy, no longer motivated through nuclear weapon superiority, inspired by Kennedy's formation of the Peace Corps
• The 1962 political manifesto of SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) advocated participatory democracy, non-violence, and criticised the development of nuclear weapons and racism, known as the "Agenda for a Generation"
• Kennedy's New Frontier was an ambitious program that aimed to address the country's economic, educational, and health issues.
• The Peace Corps focused on promoting international cooperation and understanding.
• youth


  television, music, rebellion, protests, drugs and alcohol

  tom hayden=leader of the SDS

  stokley carmicheal=leader of SNCC

  all groups of SDS, SNCC, CORE and student peace union wanted political and social change, liberation of poor and minorities, support for a peaceful foreign policy, participatory democracy and a new left
• port huron statement 


  june 15th 1962

  political manifesto of SDS led by tom hayden

  desires of youth

  'agenda for a generation'

  reflecting the dissatisfaction and disillusionment many younger people were feeling

  wanting civil rights, affordable housing, increase in minimum wage

  objected the way college administrators attempted to control their personal lives