In the 1950's, the lives of women were very clear-cut: marry in their 20's, have multiple children, and spend the rest of their lives as a housewife. Only 38% of women worked, and their jobs were limited to professions such as teachers, nurses, or secretaries. Women only accounted for 6% of doctors, 3% of lawyers, and less than 1% of engineers. They were also routinely paid less than men and had less chances to advance, because employers believed that they would get pregnant soon and quit their jobs (which remarkably still happens today, almost 70 years later).
In 1962, Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique. In the book, Friedan challenged the idea of the stereotypical 1950's housewife. As a result of her publication, Friedan helped spark a second wave of feminism in American history. The first wave of feminism had occurred during the 19th and 20th century, ending in the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote. The second wave of feminism called for equality not only in the law, but in society and women's lives.
The wave of feminism occurred parallel to multiple anti-war and civil rights movements that were happening at the same time. Because of this, many people marginalized it and viewed it as less pressing than the civil rights movement. In response to this, women formed groups like the National Organization for Women (NOW). While the first wave of feminism was driven by mostly white, middle class women, this second wave included minority women, claiming "Women's struggle is a class struggle".
The nonviolent protests were also influenced by the civil rights movement. Some women made a "Freedom Trash Can" and threw objects like heels, bras, underwear, Playboy magazine in it to represent women trapped in their homes. In 1968, women protested the Miss America Beauty Pageant because it measured a woman's worth in terms of her physical attractiveness and charm.
As a result of these protests, women gained significant changes, especially those in the workplace. In 1961, Kennedy created the President's Commission on the Status of Women, which was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt. The Equal Pay Act acknowledged equal pay for men and women who worked in the same jobs(although the act didn't seem to be very effective).
Although women today still have to deal with unequal pay, abortion rights, and self-empowerment, the women's rights movement of the 1960's brought these issues to light, and introduced the idea that women were just as capable as men.
Sources:
http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/_notes/GrrlSmarts/sawhney.html
https://tavaana.org/en/content/1960s-70s-american-feminist-movement-breaking-down-barriers-women
http://www.pacificu.edu/about-us/news-events/four-waves-feminism
http://history1900s.about.com/od/1960s/qt/femininemystiq.htm
The nonviolent protests were also influenced by the civil rights movement. Some women made a "Freedom Trash Can" and threw objects like heels, bras, underwear, Playboy magazine in it to represent women trapped in their homes. In 1968, women protested the Miss America Beauty Pageant because it measured a woman's worth in terms of her physical attractiveness and charm.
As a result of these protests, women gained significant changes, especially those in the workplace. In 1961, Kennedy created the President's Commission on the Status of Women, which was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt. The Equal Pay Act acknowledged equal pay for men and women who worked in the same jobs(although the act didn't seem to be very effective).
Although women today still have to deal with unequal pay, abortion rights, and self-empowerment, the women's rights movement of the 1960's brought these issues to light, and introduced the idea that women were just as capable as men.
Sources:
http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/_notes/GrrlSmarts/sawhney.html
https://tavaana.org/en/content/1960s-70s-american-feminist-movement-breaking-down-barriers-women
http://www.pacificu.edu/about-us/news-events/four-waves-feminism
http://history1900s.about.com/od/1960s/qt/femininemystiq.htm
Good, informative post about an important movement in American history. Interestingly, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) guaranteeing women equality under the law was introduced as early as 1923 but it was defeated. The same amendment was reintroduced during WWII when women were increasingly joining the workforce, but it was defeated every time in congress. By the 1960s the womens rights movement had made it a priority to get the act passed, but it was not ratified in all states. Since then, the amendment has never officially become part of the constitution, but most states have provisions guaranteeing women equality by now.
ReplyDeletesource: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-postwar/6055
I think that the Supreme Court had a large part to play in the legitimization of the women's rights movement. Before, gender equality was prevented legally; throughout the 20th century, many court cases forcibly changed the ability of women to gain the same civil rights as men. For example, we learned about Adkins v. Children's Hospital, where women were guaranteed wage equality, a large step in economic independence. Other cases, like Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade, prioritized the health of an individual woman before any antiquated state laws, showing the same shift in the Supreme Court that society was experiencing.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.criminaljusticedegreesguide.com/features/10-landmark-court-cases-in-womens-rights.html
I like how you discuss both the social and legal factors of the movement. The similarities between gender equality and racial equality are especially interesting. Enacting the Equal Pay Act,as you stated, wasn't very effective. Similarly, the government's attempt to stop racial discrimination in public areas was not effective either. This points to how difficult it is for the government to control the speech of individuals and whether or not they have the authority to do so. The effectiveness of some civil rights acts are still debatable today as they can be passed into law but not necessarily upheld or enforced.
ReplyDeleteSource:http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-act