The Women’s Movement of the 1970s to Today

The Legislative Road to Title IX (1972) As the women's rights movement gained momentum in the 1960s and 1970s, Americans focused on inequities that inhibited the progress of females in education. Gender bias moved into the public policy realm when Rep. Edith Green introduced a higher bill with provisions for gender equity. President Nixon signed Title IX in June The final regulations were published in July President Gerald Ford signed the Title IX regulations in May Rep. Edith Green

Proposed Equal Rights Amendment 3 years after women won the right to vote, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was introduced in Congress by Sen. Curtis and Rep. Anthony. It was authored by Alice Paul, head of the National Women's Party, who led the suffrage campaign. Echoing the efforts of Alice Paul, the Amendment was introduced into each session of Congress since 1923 to Alice Paul

Phyllis Schlafly and the ERA One item on the agenda of social conservatives in the 1970's was the defeat of the ERA. Many felt that felt that "traditional family values" had been undermined by the women's movement. Others were repelled by what they believed was intervention by the state into the private sphere. The campaign to stop ratification was led by activist and self- described homemaker Phyllis Schlafly. ERA died in 1982, just three votes short of passage.

Defeat of the ERA The statute passed by Congress in March The amendment provided that ratifications must occur within 7 years. 35 states out of the 38 needed ratified by Congress extended the deadline to June The amendment failed to achieve the necessary 38 ratifications.

Text of Proposed ERA Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex. Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Candidacy (1973) After successfully being elected to Congress, Shirley Chisholm’s next political move was a run at the presidency. From the beginning Chisholm knew her chances were slim, but to the surprise of other candidates and the American public, her campaign was more successful and inspirational than ever thought possible.

Geraldine Ferraro: Vice-Presidential Candidate (1984) A teacher and then attorney, Ferraro became a Congressional Representative of New York in She was a women's and human rights advocate, working for passage of the ERA, sponsoring the Women's Economic Equity Act, and seeking job training for displaced homemakers. In 1984, Ferraro ran for Vice President with former Vice President Walter Mondale. The ticket lost, but Ferraro's candidacy reshaped the American political and social landscape.

Women in Politics

Citations Slide 2: Slide 3: Slide 4: jpg jpg Slide 5: Slide 6: Slide 7: Slide 8: Slide 9: Slide 10: Slide 11: 0images/89ssEngClassroom.jpg