1981-1992, Position of Women

Question 1

Women in Workplace

Percentage Female

Answer 1

1960 - 38%,
1980 - 52%,
1990 - 57.8%

Question 2

Women in Workplace

Sexual Harassment

Answer 2

Decreased - women more asssertive
1980 - Equal Opportunity Commission stated sexual harassment was form of sex discrimination
Meritor Savings Bank v Vinson (1986) enabled women to take legal action

Question 3

Women in Workplace

Careers

Answer 3

Female share of professional jobs: 44% to 49% + management roles: 20% to 36% (1972-85)
Half college grads female (1985), earned 1/3 degrees in law, business, accounting, computer sciences
1983 - Sally Ride first US woman in space

Question 4

Women in Workplace

Existing Economic Inequality

Answer 4

Economic position inferior to men’s
Women less likely to achieve management positions
Less than 20% doctors + lawyers were women
Stereotypes about women’s ability to work under pressure, complaints about double shift

Question 5

Women in Workplace

Social Conservatism

Answer 5

Including Religious Right
Emphasised negative impact of women in the workplace
Asserted women took men’s jobs + couldn’t look after family + led to higher divorce rates
Newsweek magazine - supermums damaging kids

Question 6

Reproductive Rights, and Personal Freedoms

Religious Right

Answer 6

Dominant voice
Emphasised women’s liberation led to destruction of family

Question 7

Reproductive Rights, and Personal Freedoms

Supreme Court

Answer 7

Roe v Wade (1973) - seemed to guarantee rights
Webster - Missouri state law allowed to deny access to public abortion facilities
Casey - Required women to undergo counselling + wait 24 hours. Sandra Day O’Connor argued for abortion, upheld abortion was constitutional

Question 8

Reproductive Rights, and Personal Freedoms

Attitudes

Answer 8

Attitudes to marriage + childbearing changed
27% births outside marriage
40% marriages end in divorce

Question 9

Women in Politics

Representation

Answer 9

Half US population, but 1981-1992 dramatically under-represented

Question 10

Women in Politics

Increased Representation (Specific Cases)

Answer 10

Sandra Day O’Connor first woman on Supreme Court (Reagan, 1981)
Ford first to appoint woman to cabinet, most did likewise (not Reagan)
1984 - Dem presidential candidate Walter Mondale chose Geraldine Ferrero as running mate
but Denver Post - sexist remarks

Question 11

Women in Politics

Increased Representation (general)

Answer 11

1992 - year of the woman
1979-80 - 16 Congresswomen, no Senators
1991-92 - 28 Congresswomen, 2 Senators
1993 Congress - 47 women out of 435 members of House of Represenatives, 7 women among 50 Senators