America 1960-70s Feminism

Question 1

why did the feminist movement start in the 1960s? give three reasons

Answer 1

betty friedan published feminine mystique in 1963 which made people question the traditional roles of women.

the civil rights campaign encouraged and inspired women

in WW2 women had taken on new roles and lost them. they wanted these opportunities back.

Question 2

what law was passed to do with pay and in what year?

Answer 2

the equal pay act 1963

Question 3

what did the equal pay act state?

Answer 3

by law women doing the same job as men should get equal pay and could challenge their wages in court if this wasn’t the case.

Question 4

what were the limitations of the equal pay act?

Answer 4

employers gave excuses to pay men more like if they had been working for longer or had more qualifications.

Question 5

name three methods used by women to campaign for workplace equality.

Answer 5

petitions

threatened to take employers to court

went on strike

Question 6

what evidence is there that women continued to receive unequal pay?

Answer 6

in 1972, women’s average pay was 70% of men’s average pay.

Question 7

what organisation was formed to campaign for women’s rights and in what year?

Answer 7

The National Organisation for Women (NOW) 1966

Question 8

what did NOW create in 1967?

Answer 8

a bill of rights which they thought women in america deserved

Question 9

list 4 rights women campaigned for.

Answer 9

1. equal rights amendment
2. equal education
3. sex discrimination in employment
4. women to control their reproductive lives

Question 10

when did the supreme court make contraception available to unmarried couples? what impact did this have on women?

Answer 10

1972. this gave them control over their reproductive lives

Question 11

what was the case ruled by the supreme court in 1973?

Answer 11

roe vs wade

Question 12

what year was roe vs wade?

Answer 12

1973

Question 13

what did the roe vs wade ruling state?

Answer 13

abortion was a legal and fundamental right for women

Question 14

list 2 impacts of roe vs wade

Answer 14

1. individual states couldn’t make abortion illegal

2. all women had the right to an abortion

Question 15

when was the equal rights amendment suggested?

Answer 15

1972

Question 16

if introduced, what would the equal rights amendment have stated?

Answer 16

it would’ve given men and women equal rights in law.

Question 17

what happened to the equal rights amendment in the end? why?

Answer 17

it was dropped. not enough american states supported it, even thought congress did.

Question 18

give 4 reasons why people opposed giving women greater rights.

Answer 18

1. many women (wealthier classes) were happy with their status in society.
2. the bible was used to justify male domination
3. americans opposed abortion for moral reasons
4. people thought contraception and abortion rights would lead to more sex outside of marriage.

Question 19

list 3 ways women protested against male sexism in america

Answer 19

1. they invaded men’s clubs
2. publicly burnt sexist magazines
3. criticised and protested against beauty pageants/contests.

Question 20

list 3 achievements of the women’s liberation movement of the 1960s and 70s

Answer 20

1. women gained reproductive control
2. women gained greater equality in the workplace
3. NOW brought publicity to the movement

Question 21

list 3 failures of the feminist movement of the 60s and 70s

Answer 21

1. equal rights amendment was not added to the us constitution
2. employers could still get away with paying men more
3. people’s attitudes didn’t change and sexism remained in american society.

Question 22

when did NOW publish their bill of rights?

Answer 22

1967