Female Economic Dream - Political Flashcards
What was the initial political movement to enfranchise Women?
Women had been heavily disenfranchised prior to the first world war leading to Suffragettes campaigning for enfranchisement.
For example in 1917 they organized a march through New York in which 1 million Women walked through the city holding tabloids with signatures on them.
What was the impact of suffragettes?
On the 26th of August 1920 the 19th amendment was signed into law which provided Women with the right to vote, some states had implemented this before hand however, it was now national law. It was pushed through by the Republicans so many Women chose to vote Republican.
What was the negative impact of female voting rights?
Many poorer Women simply did not vote or voted the same way as their husband did as they were forced to. Many Black Women also couldn’t vote as the KKK prevented them from doing so or they failed the strict literacy tests.
Who was the Secretary of Labor under FDR?
Frances Perkins was appointed to FDR’s cabinet prior to the second world war and was the first ever female member of the cabinet.
What was the impact of Eleanor Roosevelt?
She changed the role of the first lady entirely by making it far more of an active and political role. For example she founded Camp TERA in 1933 to get Women into work and although it was initially privately funded it received federal funding from 1934 onwards. She also held a Woman’s conference in the White House.
What is the 1940 Selective training and services act and what was the impact on Women?
It was passed prior to the Second World War during the FDR presidency, it was designed to train Women to fill jobs once men were drafted and included industries such as ship building and aircraft.
What was the impact of the 1943 Lanham Act?
Only 16% of Women worked during the 1940s due to problems regarding childcare. The Lanham provisions greatly expanded provisions for childcare, by 1944 130’000 children were being cared for by neighborhood children and the overall number is 550’000.
What was JFK’s commission on the enquiry of Women?
It was launched in 1961 and was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt, it found that Women were being discouraged from starting careers and they they were seldom being encouraged into higher education. Councilors were also incredibly untrained and often gave dangerous advice to Young Women.
What was the impact of the Equal Pay Act?
It was passed in 1963 and was a direct result of the report, however it was very difficult to enforce. Difficult to enforce due to employment discrimination in training, promotion, access to work, inadequate daycare. Hotel and domestic work was not included in the minimum pay rates which many Women were involved in. Girls were still being encouraged to not think about careers.
What other act did JFK’s commission influence?
It helped influence the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
How does Liberalism effect politics for Women?
The momentum for Women’s rights increases massively, leading to the formation of various political groups for Women such as NOW.
Who is Betty Freidan and what is her impact?
She was a Widowed Suburban Wife who founded the NOW movement. She wrote the feminine mystique in which she described the Suburbs as comfortable concentration camps. Many Women resonated with her message based on how depressing their lives were and the horrendous impact this had. Challenged the mainstream views of the media. For example Women taking tranquillizers in Suburbia.
What is the agenda for NOW?
- Equal Rights in the Constitution.
- Law banning sex discrimination in the Workplace.
- Maternity leave rights.
- Child day care.
- Equal education.
- A choice regarding reproductive rights.
- Worked for a stronger enforcement of equal pay and a civil rights act, worked within the political system.
How did NOW attempt to convince Congress into signing the ERA?
They lobbied politicians extensively, they carried out demonstrations and got people to sign petitions.
How did the integration of Black Women in the suburbs increase?
In 1957 Daisy Myers invited a Neighborhood of of Women in a White Suburb to speak about integration (black family had continued to live there despite protests).
