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2nd Wave Feminism
- 1. Ch. 23.1: AnEra of Activism Feminism
- 2. Feminism Theory favoringthe political, economic, and social equality of men and women Examples of modern feminist causes???
- 3. The Feminist Movement Thefeminist 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
- 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 theMovement 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
- 9. Income Disparity ByIndustry
- 10. Median Weekly Earningsof Full-Time Wage & Salary Workers
- 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?”
- 15. NOW National Organizationfor 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
- 17. 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
- 19. Shifting Attitudes Movementcame 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
- 21. Shifting Attitudes In1972, Congress passed a prohibition against sex discrimination as part of the Higher Education Act Title IX—allowed for an explosion in women’s athletics 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 Radicalfeminists 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 In1972 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.”
- 25. “Battle of theSexes” September 20, 1973 at the Astrodome in Houston, TX Attendance=30K+ Nationally televised 90 million watched worldwide Bobby Riggs (55 y.o.) vs. Billie Jean King (26 y.o.) King won in 3 straight sets
- 26. “Battle of theSexes”
- 27. Odds & Ends Perfect family shows of 50s & 60s were replaced by new shows Mary Tyler Moore show, about a never-married, independent career woman Barbara Walters of ABC became the highest paid TV anchor & 1st woman to co- host the evening news in 1976
- 28. Opposition Phyllis Schlaflyled 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
- 29.