Women Fight for EqualityWomen Fight for EqualityMr. White’s US History 2

Main Idea, Big Questions, Main Idea, Big Questions, ObjectivesObjectivesMain Idea: Through protests and

marches, women confronted social and economic barriers in American society

Big Question: How can social justice and equality be achieved?

After this section, we should be able to:◦ Identify factors that led to the rise of the

women’s movement in the 1960s◦Describes some of the early gains and

losses of the women’s movement◦Summarize the legacy of the women’s

movement in employment, education, and politics

PART I: A NEW PART I: A NEW WOMEN’S WOMEN’S MOVEMENT ARISESMOVEMENT ARISES

The women’s movement grew in the 1960s and was spurred by the political activism of the time

Women in the WorkplaceWomen in the WorkplaceMore and more women were entering the

workplace in the 1940s, 50s, and 60sHowever, many inequalities still existed

◦ Many jobs were considered men’s or women’s jobs – women’s jobs typically paid less (clerical work, domestic servants, retail sales, social work, teaching, nursing)

◦ Women were paid far less than men, even when performing the same work

◦ Women were seldom promoted to management positions, regardless of education, experience, or ability

Kennedy’s administration commissioned a report that publicized these inequalities and alerted many women

Women Shut OutWomen Shut OutAt the same time, women throughout

American history had often tried to join movements for equality and freedom

Women in these places were typically not allowed in leadership roles, and were ignored when they raised concerns

In response to this, many women began to organize small groups and share their problems with discrimination

The Feminine MystiqueThe Feminine MystiqueAs these groups began to form, organize,

and find women leadership, the book, The Feminine Mystique captured the many complaints of women

The book focused on the contradiction that seemed apparent to many: though society seemed to say that women could obtain fulfillment through home, family, and child-rearing, many women who did were still unsatisfied with their lives

Betty Friedan, the book’s author, worked to deconstruct many of society’s characteristics that she felt reinforced inequality

PART II: GAINS AND PART II: GAINS AND LOSSESLOSSES

The women’s movement experienced both successes and losses during the women’s movement

The Civil Rights Act of The Civil Rights Act of 19641964The Civil Rights Act of 1964

prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, and gender

It also created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – many women argued that it didn’t adequately address women’s grievances

Women’s movement leaders such as Betty Friedan formed the National Organization of Women

Sections of the MovementSections of the MovementThe movement had many diverse

portions that all worked differently◦New York Radical Women – staged a

demonstration outside the Miss America Pageant Threw bras, girdles, wigs, and other “women’s

garbage” into a trash can, crowned a sheep Miss America

◦Gloria Steinem – journalist and activist, helped form the National Women’s Political Caucus, encouraged women to seek political office, also created a new women’s magazine called Ms.

The Movement GrowsThe Movement GrowsAs the women’s movement grew, its

members began to question all sorts of social norms◦ Women’s physical appearance as a job

qualification◦ Girls exclusion from traditionally male sports◦ Some stopped changing their last names for

marriageMany legal changes supported the movement

◦ 1972 – Congress passed a ban on gender discrimination in any education program supported by federal money

◦ Congress also expanded financial assistance for daycare for women

Response to the Response to the MovementMovementCongress passed the Equal Rights

Amendment in 1972◦This amendment to the Constitution still

needed to be ratified by the states to go into effect

However, the amendment scared many people

Conservative Phyllis Schlafly, along with other anti-feminist groups, felt this would lead to many bad changes◦Women drafted into the military ◦End of laws protecting homemakers, ◦The end of a husband’s responsibility to

provide

Conservative OppositionConservative OppositionConservative opponents of the

Equal Rights Amendment organized new “pro-family” movements

This movement came to be known as the New Right◦The New Right began to build

support among regular people to oppose some of the aims of the women’s movement

The ERA Struck DownThe ERA Struck DownThe New Right continued to

organize opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment, and support for it began to waver

By 1977, 35 of the 38 states necessary for ratification of the ERA ratified it

In June of 1982, the amendment reached its deadline for ratification and failed

Legacy of the MovementLegacy of the MovementThe women’s movement still had many

lasting impacts that exist still today◦Women’s attitudes toward education,

careers, traditional roles, and family began to change

◦Career opportunities for women began to expand, especially in educated and managerial positions

◦Women also gained political power by being elected to high political office

◦Women’s issues also became a centerpiece of political issues, and are so to this day

Main Idea, Big Questions, Main Idea, Big Questions, ObjectivesObjectivesMain Idea: Through protests and

marches, women confronted social and economic barriers in American society

Big Question: How can social justice and equality be achieved?

After this section, we should be able to:◦ Identify factors that led to the rise of the

women’s movement in the 1960s◦Describes some of the early gains and

losses of the women’s movement◦Summarize the legacy of the women’s

movement in employment, education, and politics

Wrap-upWrap-upSo…

◦One of the factors that led to the rise of the women’s movement was… Its impact on the women’s movement was…

◦One of the successes of the women’s movement was… It was a success because…

◦One of the failures of the women’s movement was… It failed because…

◦One of the lasting impacts of the women’s movement is… One of the ways that it still impacts us today

is…