63-72 feminism Flashcards
the publication of which book triggered second wave feminism
“Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan
published 1963
What was the focus of second wave feminism in the 50s and 60s
economic issues but eventullay branched out into identity, domestic and sexual relationships
what was the reason for the change in approach to feminsim
-women had been instrumental in the civil rights movement which offered political experience
-leaders emerged like Fannnie Lou Hamer who inspired women to be politically active
-women were often excluded from other protest groups like left wing ones and Civil rights didnt address the issue of gender inequality
All of these reasons led to the formation of NOW
NOW
National Organastion for Women
formed in 1966
their goal was “Bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society… in truly equal partenership with men”
NOW and employment rights
between 1954-1973 the number of women between 20-24 in work rose from 50% to 61% but married women were discriminated against
only 30% of married mothers had any kind of paid work in 1960
President Johnson did pass an executive order to prevent sexual discrimination in any company that worked for the governement
What helped women gain sexual freedom
the contraceptive pill
what did the Feminine mystique argue
women should seek different lifestyles
what did radical feminists argue for
female separatism
NYRW
New York Radical Women group
what did the NYRW do in 1968
organised a famous protest at the Miss World Pageant
backlash to feminism
conservatives, even conservative women who resented the implication they were dissatisfied with their role as houswifes.
Phyliss Schlafly
Weeks Vs Southern Bell
law said that women could not lift above 30 pounds in a workplace and they used it to deny he rpromotion to a higher paying job
she said it violated the Civil rights act 1964
Weeks appealed to the supreme court and won (although had to appeal many times)
1969
What did Friedan say about suburbia
called them “comfortable concentration camps”
and there was “a problem that had no name”
why was the civil rights act of 1964 significant for feminism
it outlawed gender inequality aswell as racial
ERA
Equal Rights Amendment
how did they campaign for ERA
traditional tactics of protest like marches and speeches.
they supported cases like Weeks vs Southern Bell
National Airlines advert
1972
NOW objected it as it advertised women not the airline
mocking women
Marches
1970 national womens strike to equality which attracted 100,000 marches/people
1970s feminism
progressed into the Womens liberation Movement examining social issues as well as just economic discrimination
liberal feminists
belives women should have the same rights as men
did women in the 50s realise they were discriminated against
1/4 of women thought they werent discriminate dgainst
Jo Freeman and womens rights
wrote “the Tyranny of Strucuturelessness”
-voter registration and community organisation, an early organizer of the womens liberation movement
-student activist at Berkely
-Civil Rights activivst
- radical (we all cheer)
-concioussness raising (1950 1/4 ddint think they were discriminated against) If women talk to each other they coul help one anither to recognize the discrimination
Shulamith Firestone
- Radical, writer and activist
-nickanmed ‘fireball’ very passionate
-spoke at a national conference and protested a Miss America contest
-supported abortion
-Dialectic of Sex- book - believed womens liberation could only be acheived through a revolutionary over throw of the world patriachcal system
-believed women should stop having sex, then theyd be free from men
-believed in acces to IVF and choice of when to get married
Ti-Grace Atkinson
Radical feminist and early member of NOW
advocated for political lesbianism
described marriage as slavery
Shirley Chisholm
first AFrican American women elected into congress
liberal
Gloria Steinem
founder of Ms Magazine
radical
Angela Davis
Leader in the American communist party
radical
Radical feminists
Jo Freeman
Shulamith Firestone
Ti-Grace Atkinson
Gloria Steinem
Angela Davis
Liberal feminists
Shirley Chisholm
Betty Friedan
social success
-consciousness raising, made women aware they were being discriminated agiasnt
-100,000 person protest organized
-Feminine mystique
lack of social success
-women were mocked at Civil Rights protests
-NOW did not support lesbians as they were viewed as harmful to the movement
-some women took tranqulisers/ alcohol to deal with deprresiion
80% of teachers were women, but only 10% were principals, meaning they were missing out on higher payin jobs
-womens healthcare was often overlooked
Political success
-litigation Weeks Vs Southern Bell in 1969
-1970 NOW organised a womens strike for equality
-1963 Equal pay act
-Equal Employement Oppurtunities Commision
lack of political success
-at the news conference they did not warrant gender equality important
-Nixon vetoed an act that would have made childcare free
Economic success
-1975, 45% of married women worked
-airlines stopped firing women hostesses when they turned 32
-Reed Vs Reed
lack of economic success
increase 10% in 20 years (womens work) very slow increae
-a man had to sign on anything financial
-pregnant teachers were fired
