Second Wave Feminism

Question 1

Second Wave Feminism

Answer 1

The revived feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s that wanted social/economic equality for women

Question 2

Key Feminist Thinkers

Answer 2

• Betty Friedan: ‘The Feminine Mystique’ (1963)
• Julia Mitchell: ‘Women: The Longest Revolution’ (1966)
• Germaine Greer: ‘The Female Eunuch’ (1970)

Question 3

Dagenham Women’s Workers Strike (1968)

Answer 3

• Ford car factory employed 50,000 men and 187 female workers
• Women’s job involved sewing the car seat covers using a sewing machine and a strip of leather
• Management graded their job as ‘unskilled’
• Women were fighting for their grade NOT their pay
• Job required 2 years of training
• Unskilled classed them as equivalent to the floor sweepers/cleaners, same pay
• All the women went on strike, factory had to close temporarily as cars couldn’t be sold w/o the covers
  *Male workers supported the women

Question 4

Barbara Castle & The Equal Pay Act (1970)

Answer 4

• Women from the Dagenham Women Workers Strike met with Barbara Castle, Employment Secretary at the height of the strikes
• She promised them a pay rise, brought them up to 92% of the unskilled men’s wage, improvement but not what they wanted
• Inspired the proposal of the Equal Pay Act
• Introduced in 1970, came into effect in 1975, gave employers time to adjust
• Women at Ford didn’t receive their ‘skilled status until 1984

Question 5

The Family Planning Act (1967)

Answer 5

• 1961: Introduction of the pill, only prescribed to married women, initially
• Act allowed local authorities to provide the pill/contraceptives to single women
• Gave women control over their own fertility, allowed them to pursue a career and have some financial independence
• However, men more able to easily pressure women into having sex
• Number of illegitimate births rose from 5.8% to 8.2%, due to changes in social attitudes
• Number of divorces also began to rise

Question 6

The Abortion Act (1967)

Answer 6

*Info in Social Liberal Reforms deck

Question 7

The First National Women’s Liberation Conference (1970)

Answer 7

• A rally in 1969 led to the establishment of the Women’s National Coordination Committee
• Brought various strands pf the feminist movement together
• Conference held at Ruskin College, Oxford University, Feb 1970
• Four demands were put forward to enhance women’s rights: equal pay, free contraceptives/abortion upon request, equal opportunities for education/jobs and free 24-hour childcare

Question 8

The Matrimonial Act (1970)

Answer 8

Established that the work of a wife, whether it be paid employment or unpaid in the home raising children, should be considered in divorce settlements

Question 9

Sexual Objectification/Harassment of Women (Long-Term Negative Effect)

Answer 9

• In the 1960s, women faced sexual objectification in beauty contests, advertisements and on screen
• The beauty contests consisted of multiple women being competed against one another based purely on the size, attractiveness and measurements of their bodies, in public
• Examples of attitudes to women are ported in the comedic ‘Carry On’ movies and famous stars such as Raquel Welch, popular sex symbol of the 1960s
• Media started to portray strong, assertive female role models, e.g. Diana Rigg in the Avengers

Question 10

Mary Quant & The Miniskirt Revolution

Answer 10

• Mary Quant was one of the most influential figures in the fashion scene
• Best known for conceiving the miniskirt
• Short hemlines, A-line dresses, Peter Pan collars, knee-high boots, sensible heels, coloured tights became associated with supermodels and the whole style of the ‘Swinging 60s’