THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT

1960S HISTORY OTHER SOCIAL MOVEMENTSSALSBERRY

WOMEN FIGHT FOR EQUALITYFEMINISM The theory that was

behind the women’s movement of the 1960s was called feminism.

It was the belief that women should have economic, political, and social equality with men.

Feminist Symbol

BACKGROUND: MID 1800S TO 1920S

GOALS Wanted suffrage (the right to vote) Wanted property/will rights Wanted reforms in higher education Wanted “rights to their own body”ACHIEVEMENTS 19th Amendment (1920): Gave

women the right to vote. Reforms to will rights Improvements to educationSETBACKS No health reforms, no spousal rape

protection“A Suffragette’s

Home”

A STALL IN THE MOVEMENT

World War II

BACKGROUND: POST WWIIWOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE In 1960 40% of women “worked for wages.” High paying jobs were considered “men’s work.” Few jobs were available to women.1961PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON THE STATUSOF WOMEN Found women were paid far less than men, even

when doing the same job. Also, found that women were seldom promoted to

management positions regardless of education, experience, and ability.

These facts awakened many women to their unequal status in society.

WOMEN AND ACTIVISM

How would you expect women to be treated during other social movements and protests of the 1960s?

THE MOVEMENT EMERGESTHE FEMININE MYSTIQUE The catalyst for sparking the

second wave of feminism. Written by Betty Friedan in

1963. Friedan herself was a

housewife in the 1950s and 1960s.

Captured the discontent and “trapped” feeling that many women were experiencing as a housewife during this time. The Feminine

Mystique

THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE“The problem lay buried, unspoken... It was a strangestirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning thatwomen suffered in the middle of the twentieth century in the United States. Each suburban wife struggledwith it alone. As she made the beds, shopped forgroceries, matched slipcover material, ate peanut buttersandwiches with her children, chauffeured Cub Scouts andBrownies, lay beside her husband at night – she wasafraid to ask even of herself the silent question – ‘Is thisall?’”

GOALS OF THE MOVEMENTTHE CREATION OF NOW “National Organization for Women” Held demonstrations, marches, and

protestsGOALS OF THE MOVEMENT Wanted child-care facilities Wanted to ban gender discrimination

in hiring Wanted to stop violence against

women Wanted to promote reproductive

rights Wanted to promote female political

candidates

National Organization for Women

GAINSSOCAIL Girls missing from sports came into question. “Ms.” instead of Miss or Mrs. Not changing last name upon marriage. Woman’s physical appearance no longer considered a

job qualification.LEGAL 1972 Higher Education Act: Congress passed a ban

on gender discrimination in education programs. Parents were given a tax break for child-care expenses. Roe V. Wade (1973): Supreme Court ruled women

have the right to choose an abortion during the first three months.

SETBACKS1972 EQUAL RIGHTS

AMENDMENT(ERA) An amendment that would

guarantee that both men and women would enjoy the same rights and protections under the law.

First introduced to Congress in 1923.

Passed but was not ratified. “Radical feminists hate men,

marriage, and children and were oppressed only in their distorted minds” (Phyllis Schlafly, 1972).

Left: “ERA is the American Way”, Below: States that ratified the ERA

LEGACIES The “New Right” Transformed

conventional roles More working mothers Expanded career

opportunities Female members of

the House and Senate Put feminist concerns

on the national stage

Women of the 111th Senate