black power Flashcards
how was ‘second wave feminism’ different from first wave feminism
broadened debate to include wide range of issues (eg. sexuality, family, domesticity, workplace, reproductive rights) whilst first wave feminism mainly focused on suffrage/overturning legal obstacles to gender equality
how did women’s economic position improve
- 1963 equal pay act
- 1963 study published ‘report on american women’ (commissioned by kennedy)
- increase in university graduates
describe 1963 ‘report on american women’
- worked on by several highly educated women & read by elite
- statistics of unequal pay, opportunities, political participation & status
how many university graduates were women in 1986
half
how did women’s social position improve
- kennedys ‘new frontier’ and johnson’s ‘great society’
- developed confidence/pride by contributing to black power movement (eg. elaine brown)
- 1960 FDA approved contraceptive pill
- 1963 the feminine mystique published (betty friedan)
- 1964 civil rights act
- 1973 roe v wade
- 1974 educational equity act
- 1978 pregnancy discrimination act
limitation of 1964 civil rights act
equal employment opportunity commission (EEOC) set up to enforce new law refused to act in cases of sex discrimination
what did the roe v wade (1973) ruling allow
‘the right of women to control their own reproductive lives’ - NOW conference 1967
describe the 1974 educational equity act
focused on ensuring equal access to educational opportunities for women and girls
describe the 1978 pregnancy discrimination act
prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions
how did women’s political participation improve
- inspired/energised by ‘new feminism’
- important role in grass-roots element of civil rights movement in 1950s (eg. leading parts in birmingham bus boycott, freedom rides & sit-ins)
- increase in strike action
- 1966 NOW established
- 1967 women’s caucus set up to lobby congress
- women aided by black power & shaped the movement
describe national organisation for women (NOW) formed 1966
- wider remit than any previous organisations
- aim = ‘full participation in the mainstream of american society’ & ‘a truly equal relationship with men’
- enabled ERA (along with other women’s groups) to get debated by both houses of congress
when was the first AA woman elected to congress
1968 = shirley chisholm
strike action of women during black power era
- 1961 women strike for peace (50,000)
- 1972 strike of 20,000 women calling for full equality
how many states had female governors by 1990
8 states
how many of america’s biggest cities had female mayors by 1992
19 out of 100
how many members of the black panthers were women in early 1970s
2/3
how many female senators in congress by 1933
7
1974 equal credit opportunity act
allowed women to apply for credit cards & mortgages (etc.) without husband/male
how did women’s economic position not improve
= unequal pay
eg. gap between men & women’s pay increased 1945-69
what was percentage of men’s pay was women’s in 1973
57% of men’s
how many engineers were women in 1990
fewer than 18%
considerable conservative opposition women’s rights
- ERA did not pass with necessary 2/3 majority
- phyllis schlafly = organised women to oppose measure effectively
why did some women oppose the ERA
- women may find themselves liable for military service, lose protection rights & alimony would be threatened (most significantly for older women)
- appeal for traditional values & need to be looked after by men/care for children & family
what attitudes still remained
discriminatory/sexist attitudes towards women
- eg. (1965) nation of islam condemned ‘sins of birth control’ & referred to ‘the deathly pill’
