2. Feminism
Theory favoring the
political, economic, and
social equality of men and
women
Examples of modern
feminist causes???
3. The Feminist
Movement
The feminist movements of
the late 1800s & early 1900s
did NOT achieve full
equality that women
sought
Stereotype of a meek
housewife persisted
Reality: In 1960, 38% of
women had jobs away
from home
4.
5.
6. Background
to the
movement
In 1950, 25% of bachelor’s
degrees were earned by
women
Up to 43% by 1970
That # is now 57%
However, in the 1950s &
1960s many employers
refused to hire women,
even if they were well-
educated
7. Background to the Movement
Employers expected women to
leave the job after a few years to
start a family & didn’t want to
invest money in hiring them
Limited daycare options
Even if hired, women earned less
while doing the same job
Women still struggle to becomes
CEOs & other upper level positions
“Glass Ceiling”
Wage gap between men
& women
1963—Women $0.59 to
every dollar a man
earned
1973—$0.57 to every
dollar
Today—Around $0.80
12. Civil Rights & Women
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s & 1960s did not
just help African Americans
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 added gender
discrimination to the list of illegal acts
Gave women a legal framework to challenge discrimination
The movement also provided inspiration & a “how-to”
model for action
13. The Feminine Mystique
Book written by Betty Friedan in 1963
Created a sensation in the suburbs of America
Often credited w/ sparking the feminist movement
Over 3 million copies sold by 2000
Addressed to women who supposedly had everything (nice
house, healthy kids, middle to upper-class lifestyle)
Despite all of this, these women were NOT happy!
Friedan called it “the problem that had no name”
The dissatisfaction of not being able to realize one’s full
potential
Friedan gave these women the courage to ask “Is this all?”
14.
15. NOW
National Organization for Women (NOW)—Est. in 1966 to promote
the full participation of women in American society
Attacked false images of women in the media
Called for balance in marriage responsibilities
Sharing of cooking, cleaning, parenting, etc.
Pushed for fair pay & equal job opportunities
Had 15K members by 1970
500K today, w/ 500+ local chapters & affiliates in all 50 states
Many viewed NOW as too extreme
Others felt it didn’t go far enough
16.
17. Shifting Attitudes
Movement came of age in early 70s
Our Bodies, Ourselves, published in 1970
Sold 3 million copies by 1990
Encouraged women to understood their own health issues
Gloria Steinem & others founded Ms. magazine in 1972
Tackled feminist issues
Much different than Good Housekeeping or Ladies’ Home
Journal
18.
19. Miss America, 1968
Protest organized by New York Radical Women (NYRW)
400 protesters assembled on the boardwalk of Atlantic City
Published a manifesto titled “No More Miss America!”
Little boys dreamed of being president, but what about little girls?
Signs read “Welcome to the Cattle Auction”
Threw items in “Freedom Trash Can”
Wigs, fake eyelashes, dish detergent, high heels, bras, etc.
Led to reporters coining the phrase “bra burners”
Criticized the “ludicrous beauty standards we ourselves are
conditioned to take seriously”
Also, attacked pageant’s beauty standards as racist
As of that year there had never been an African American finalist
20.
21. Shifting Attitudes
In 1972, Congress passed a prohibition against sex
discrimination as part of the Higher Education Act
More women entered law school & medical school
Women were finally admitted to military academies to
be trained as officers
National Women’s Political Caucus was est. in 1971
Shirley Chisholm ran, one of NWP’s founders, ran for
president in ‘72
Served in House from 1969-1983
22. Shifting Attitudes
Radical feminists emphasized the need to end male domination
Some even went as far as rejecting men, marriage, &
childbearing
Supreme Court struck down law that prohibited the sale of birth
control in Griswold v. Connecticut, 1965
Based on the “right to marital privacy”
Use of contraception became more socially acceptable
Supreme Court legalized abortion in controversial Roe v. Wade
decision in 1973
Decision based on constitutional right of privacy
Issue of abortion is still extremely polarizing today
23. Shifting Attitudes
In 1972 Congress approved passage of the Equal Rights
Amendment (ERA)
But 38 states were needed, only 35 ratified the amendment
By 1982, the deadline, ratification had failed
It reads:
“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any State on account of
sex.”
24.
25. Opposition
Phyllis Schlafly led movement to stop
ratification of the ERA
“It won’t do anything to help women,
and it will take away from women
the rights they already have, such as
the right of a wife to be supported by
her husband, the right of a woman to
be exempted from military combat
and the the right...to go to a single-
sex college.”
Many men were also hostile towards
the women’s liberation movement
Some women desired to remain at
home and raise children
