Women Fight for Equality Chapter 23, Section 2 Era of Social Change Women Fight for Equality Chapter 23, Section 2

The Feminine Mystique All a woman needed to be happy was a husband, healthy children and a house in the suburbs…right? Betty Friedan: conducted a survey of Smith graduates 15 years after graduation that found women were NOT happy. Feminine Mystique: addressed this problem

The Women’s Movement Arises Feminism: the belief that women should have economic, political and social equality with men. Gained momentum in mid-1800s through 1920 with suffrage Workplace 40% of women worked as of 1960 Women shut out of “men’s” jobs Clerical, domestic, teaching, nursing, retail and social work Presidential Commission on the Status of Women Women paid far less Seldom promoted to management

Women in the Workplace

Women and Activism Felt discrimination in the civil rights and antiwar movements; men led most activities and women assigned lesser roles Men brushed women aside Women organized consciousness raising sessions Shared their lives Discovered their experiences were not unique Pattern of sexism and gender discrimination

The Women’s Movement Emerges The Feminine Mystique became a best seller By the late 1960s, women were working together for change NOW: National Organization for Women Formed to pursue women’s goals Gained strength through EEOC and CRA 1964 Creation of child care facilities, ban discrimination in hiring, sex-segregated ads illegal

The Women’s Movement Emerges

A Diverse Movement New York Radical Women Gloria Steinem Demonstration at Miss America pageant Threw bras, girdles, wigs and other “women’s garbage” Crowned a sheep Miss America Gloria Steinem Journalist, political activist, granddaughter of a suffragist Ms. Magazine to treat contemporary issues from a feminist perspective

Steinem and Friedan

Legal and Social Gains Sports, appearance, “Ms.”, adoption of husband’s last name Congress passed legislation in 1972 that banned gender discrimination in any education program or receiving federal financial assistance Tax break for child-care expenses for working parents

Roe vs. Wade Controversial position of NOW Women’s right to have an abortion within the first three months of their pregnancy Issue still divides Americans today

Equal Rights Amendment 1972, Congress passed the ERA Guaranteed both men and women would enjoy the same rights and protections under the law Needed 38 states to ratify and become part of the Constitution Phyllis Schlaffly: conservative who believed radical feminists hated men, marriage and children Conservative opposition to ERA Drafting of women End laws protecting homemakers Husband’s responsibility to provide for family Same sex marriages

Phyllis Schlafly

The New Right Emerges In order to combat abortion rights and the ERA “Pro-family” movement Focused on social, cultural and moral problems of the nation Debated family-centered issues Defeated the ERA

Legacy of the Feminist Movement Transformed conventional “women’s roles” Working women Expansion of career opportunities By 1998 44% of law school graduates and 42% of medical school graduates Congress “Glass Ceiling”

Women’s College Graduation Rate

Women’s Income Today

Women’s Issues Today Title IX What is it? Has it Helped? In Education In Athletics Problems with Title IX and reverse discrimination

Women’s Issues Today Roe v. Wade Is it in danger? Why do women want it? Life endangerment Financial reasons Criminal victims Immaturity Key Issues How do we separate church and state in this case? Who has the right to tell a women what to do with her body? Do men have any rights?

Women’s Issues Today Working Women and Maternity Laws US (0 days paid) Sweden (up to 16 months paid) Mexico (12 weeks paid) China (90 days paid) Article, “More Options for Mom” What should we do?

Women’s Issues Today Gloria Steinem Discusses the 2008 Election