feminism

• WW2 was the catalyst that led to women's increased participation in paid work and created a sense of independence that they were unwilling to give up after the war, by 1960 50 % of the workplace were women
• in 60s and 70s traditional housewife and mother roles were challenged by the feminist movement for equality and rights for women
• commission on status of women, in 1961:

  Eleanor Roosevelt pressurized JFK to report on women in the workplace, in 1963 it found that:

  • women earned around 60 per cent less than men for the same job
  • around 95 per cent of managers were men - the majority of work for women was part time and with limited responsibility
  • 4 % lawyers and 7 % of doctors were women
  • cabin crew could be legally dismissed if they were married
• winning the right to vote in 1920 didn't lead to wider equality for women
• inspired by the civil rights movement:

  the feminist movement developed in the late 60s
• Betty Friedan


  A key leader in the feminist movement
• The Feminine Mystique

  • Friedan's influential 1963 book
  • Highlighted women's dissatisfaction with the roles of housewives and mothers
• Friedan believed that some women were living oppressive lives and urged progress in employment opportunities
• Establishment of the National Organization for Women (NOW)

  1. Friedan and 48 activists established it in 1966

  2. Aimed to end employment discrimination and achieve wage equality

  3. Advocated for working mothers' childcare provision, paid maternity leave, and legalized abortion
• 1963:


  the equal pay act passed- women received equal pay for the same job
• in 1966


  NOW demanded complete and equal rights for women and reproductive rights
• other activists focused on confronting patriarchy as the root of inequality wanted to work together for freedom from men's control and oppression not just legal equality 


  became known as women's liberation movement
• women's lib activists

  protested at the 1968 Miss America beauty pageant, saying these evnts exploited and degraded women
• Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)


  1972
• Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

  Stated that equality "must not be denied on account of sex"
• Ratification of the ERA


  Needed to be ratified by at least 38 states for it to become part of the US Constitution
• The ERA encountered strong opposition
• STOP ERA campaign

  Led by conservatives such as Phyllis Schlafly, who believed equality under the law would undermine traditional family life, require women to fight in the military on the same basis as men, unisex bathrooms, homosexual marriages
• The Equal Rights Amendment was defeated by its opponents, as it did not receive ratification from the required number of states STOP ERA suceeded
• 1972:

  the educational amendment act banned sexual discrimination in schools
• Supreme Court ruled in the Roe v Wade case, granting constitutional rights to women for early pregnancy abortions


  1973
• The Roe v Wade decision ended the state-by-state variations in abortion policies
• Feminist movement

  • Played a significant role in empowering women
  • Enhancing their representation in society and politics
• Shirley Chisholm made history as the first black woman member of Congress
• President Richard Nixon vetoed a program to expand child-care facilities


  Due to concerns about family dynamics