NOW and women's rights in 60s and 70s

Question 1

What were areas of inequality?

Answer 1

• 3/5 of women over 16 not in work in 1960, 30% married mothers employed. Men earned $27,000 annually compared to $15,000 for women. Women responsible for 79% unpaid work - childcare. Betty Friedan argued in 1963 that women focused too much on their family

Question 2

What did Ti-Grace Atkinson argue?

Answer 2

Radical Ti-Grace Atkinson wrote in 1968 The Institution of Sexual Intercourse – sex led women to submission, producing children and men seeking pleasure at their expense. Romance with men psychological draft. Women should be celibate or in lesbian relationships.

Question 3

How did NOW form?

Answer 3

• In 1966 radical action led to National Organisation for Women forming, NOW.
• NOW Statement of Purpose set by Friedan and Rev Pauli Murray, bringing women into full participation of society. Equal Rights Amendment sought after.

Question 4

Why did Kate Millet and Atkinson leave NOW?

Answer 4

Kate Millet left NOW due to failure to approach lesbian rights while Atkinson formed New York group The Feminists who fought porn and marriage and promoted abortion; stormed NYC registry office with leaflets on female separatism.

Question 5

What did NYRW do in 1968?

Answer 5

NYRW, New York Radical Women, a third wave group who had abortion ‘speakouts’ and in 1968 held protest of Miss World pageant, crowning a sheep Miss World and throwing underwear and kitchen utensils into ‘freedom trashcan.’

Question 6

What did President Kennedy accomplish?

Answer 6

When President Kennedy entered power, Presidential Commission on the Status of Women formed. Howard W Smith, Democrat, proposed Title VII to Equal Rights Act 1964, protection from discrimination in work for women, not added. Failure: By 1969 pay gap larger than 1963.

Question 7

Why did the radical feminist movement grow?

Answer 7

Growth of feminism due to: SNCC and CORE excluding white members and pushing their attention elsewhere; black activists such as Jo Ann Robinson encouraging political action from women; New Left and Students for a Democratic Society male dominated pushing women to form own groups.

Question 8

What were NOW successes under President Johnson’s power?

Answer 8

NOW successes – members of Kennedy Commission lobbied Johnson; May 1967 Executive Order 11375 wouldn’t discriminate against women in government company positions; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission held test case saying it would enforce Title VII; Johnson to appoint 50 women to top gov posts with NOW advice.

Question 9

What was the Weeks v Southern Bell case?

Answer 9

1967 Weeks v Southern Bell – Lorena Weeks brought Southern Bell Telephone Company to court for promoting a man despite her better experience. Lost first case so NOW appointed Sylvia Roberts, chief Louisiana lawyer, to take on case. Husband and children embarrassed, but court ruled violation of Title VII and Weeks won job eventually by 1971 and $31,000 back pay.

Question 10

How did NOW fight criminal rights in 1966?

Answer 10

NOW – 1966 Jane Daniel convicted of robbery with longer sentence than male accomplice due to Pennsylvania’s Muncy Act. NOW claimed this violated Title VII and Muncy Act struck down by highest court.

Question 11

What were NOW failures?

Answer 11

NOW’s actions never led to passing of Equal Rights Amendment. Neither Title VII or Executive Order 11375 led to better status or pay for women.

Question 12

Why did radical feminists fail?

Answer 12

• NYRW actions led to New York tightening laws on abortion in 1970 but Roe v Wade passed 1973.
• Female separatism unattractive to most.

Question 13

What were successes for women in employment?

Answer 13

• Female employment opportunities in male dominated sectors and vice versa. 1970-80 gender segregation decline by 10%.
• By 1970 women made 42.8% of work force. By 1989 73% of married women with children between 6-17 years had a job. Well educated and middle class.

Question 14

What was the glass ceiling?

Answer 14

Only 4.8% of 3 million managers female. Majority of women in low prestige jobs. Higher education opportunities had yet to hit high prestige occupations – a glass ceiling

Question 15

Why did working mothers suffer?

Answer 15

Failure to provide paid maternity leave – only 5 states by 1980s. Women, particularly African American women, faced poverty due to low wages meaning they couldn’t afford child care.

Question 16

What magazine did Gloria Steinem set up?

Answer 16

1972 Gloria Steinem established magazine ‘Ms’ which sold 200,000 copies that year and raised awareness to issues such as rape and domestic violence.

Question 17

What were successes for young women?

Answer 17

• By 1978 only 25% of women wanted to be housewives, aged 15-19.
• Introduction of The Pill in the 1970s gave women control over their bodies.

Question 18

Why did NOW and radical feminists cause division?

Answer 18

Radical feminists deterred male support and support from women as well. By 1990 only 37% of men supported gender equality. Working class felt unrepresented. NOW largely had local response diluting its impact nationally. Liberal feminists focused on child care facilities and earning.