Feminism and the New Right The New Right had many strands, but it included evangelical Christians, many of them women, determined to bring their religious values into the political arena Activist Phyllis Schlafly, credited for putting the New Right (antifeminism) on the political map STOP (Stop Taking Our Privileges) – ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) campaign From Anti-Abortion to Pro-Life

Feminism in the 1980s The Undeclared War against American Women (1991) by Susan Faludi focused on the unhappiness and disappointment that women who had chosen feminist lifestyles were allegedly suffering Just as conservative groups put pressure on the Republican Party, NOW and other feminist lobbying organizations had significant influence among Democrats In the 1980s key issue that provoked much debate among feminists was pornography

Ecofeminism exemplified this linkage between feminist values and social justice concerns This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color (1981)brought together the unabashedly feminist writings of Chicana, African American, Native American, and Asian American women Membership in NOW declined, Ms. Magazine struggled to stay afloat, and younger women seemed increasingly indifferent

Feminism in the 1990s Feminism resurged and has been described as the “third wave feminism” New feminist organizations were created such as the Third Wave Foundation The new feminists redefined feminism in a way that made it more relevant to young women of their generation Feminist participated in a wide range of social justice issues, including environmental, anti- sweatshop, and reproductive rights campaigns, many of them pursued in the international arena

U.S. Women In War Women’s role in the military has been crucial in maintaining troop strength By 2007, regulations changed and allowed women in combat aircraft and on naval ships but still technically excluded them form ground combat and the use of offensive weapons Today, 20% of new military recruits are female One of their most serious problems is sexual harassment, including rape, form their fellow soldiers “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy

Women in the Labor Force By 1990, women constituted almost half of paid labor, drawn into the workforce by economic pressures as well as by shifting attitudes and practices While barriers were falling in male-dominated occupations and professions, the vast majority of women continued to work in female-dominated jobs In 2010, 75% of clerical and administrative support jobs, 91% percent of private household labor, and almost 90% of institutional health care service work continued to be performed by women

Change in Family & Personal Life By the late 1990s, only one out of four households in the U.S. included a married couple The increasing acceptability of lesbianism was an important element in the growing numbers of unmarried women The dual-income marriage replaced the male- breadwinner structure as the most reliable way for a family to improve its standard of living Women were more likely to marry without having children and more likely to have children without marrying The attack on the welfare program