Women’s Movement

2 Background Second Great Awakening early 1800s – Abolitionism, Temperance, Women’s Rights Seneca Falls Convention, 1848 – Birthplace of Women’s Rights Suffrage – victory in 1920 w/ 19 th Amendment – Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Stanton, Alice Paul (active protests) After 1920 – movement splinters over what kind of laws will improve lives of women

3 WWII employment for women Women’s Auxiliary Corps laboratory technician conducts an experiment, Fort Jackson State Hospital, 1944 Aircraft engine technician and senior supervisor, Naval Air Base, 1942

4 Post-WWII employment A secretary and her boss, an industrial designer, New York City, 1950

5 Social pressures Kennedy wedding, Jacqueline throwing the bouquet, 1953 Early marriage Childbearing Stay-at-home motherhood Nuclear family

6 The Baby Boom Year Births

7 Media portrayals of gender A photo of the Cleaver family from Leave it to Beaver, a popular TV show in the 1950s-60s

8 Suburbia, home of the “happy housewife” Levittown track homes of the 1950s G.I. Bill Mass-produced, affordable homes Great Migration and “white flight”

9 Household products marketed to women A 1950s ad for an electric iron A 1950s ad for a cleaning product

Central Historical Question Is the image of the happy 1950s housewife accurate?

11 Feminist Movement Feminism: the belief that men and women should be equal politically, economically and socially 1960s - women began to join organizations aimed at improving their role in society Established by JFK, President’s Commission on the Status of Women highlighted problems in workplace Equal Pay Act passed in 1963 which outlawed paying men more than women for the same job

12 Time is NOW Betty Friedan (Feminine Mystique) founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966 Group fought for… – Greater educational opportunities – Better workplace rights – Amendment to the Constitution Gloria Steinem became one of movement’s leading figures Membership rose to over 200,000

13

14 Title IX Educational Amendments passed in 1972 banned gender discrimination in education Title IX: prohibited federally funded schools from discriminating against women in nearly all aspects, from admissions to athletics

15 Roe v. Wade Movement wanted to secure the right to reproductive decisions Roe v. Wade: Decided a woman, with her doctor, could choose abortion in 1 st 3 months of pregnancy without restriction, and with restrictions in later months. Supreme Court ruled in favor of right to privacy with 1973 decision

16 Resistance Phyllis Schlafly – opposed modern feminism Conservative who advocated family and home life. Opposed ERA

17 Equal Rights Amendment Congress passed the ERA in March 1972 “Equality of rights shall not be denied by the U.S. or by any State on account of sex.” Opponents to ERA argued… – Take away some traditional rights, like alimony in divorces – Right to have single gender colleges – Might allow women to be drafted – Eliminate laws providing special protection in the workforce

18 ERA Failed ERA failed in 1982 (rights already protected by 14 th Amendment) To be part of the Constitution, it needed to be ratified by 38 states (only 35 states agreed)

19 Legacy of the Movement More women pursue degrees and careers outside of home Employers make work more compatible with family life Changed society – Two career families Income gap still exists – Glass ceiling Increase in divorce rates