Stagnation for Women in the 50s and 60s Flashcards
What act motivated NOW to form?
In 1964 Howard Smith, Southern Congressman, joked that sex should be added to the groups which couldn’t be discriminated against in employment, (race, colour, religion, national origin). Women were quick to bring legal cases on the Civil Rights Act and this led to the National Organisation for Women forming.
What were problems of the 50s and 60s for women, and challenges NOW had to face?
- New kind of feminism to challenge suburban housewife expectation, Betty Friedan wrote Feminine Mystique in 1963.
- JFK wrote Report on American Women finding pay gap and lack of opportunity disturbing, 1963. His New Frontier sought change.
- Women faced pressure to be pretty and hold together family, femininity sought.
How many lived in suburbs by 1970?
By 1970 80 million Americans or 40% lived in suburbs with a culture where women were homemakers and couldn’t take a political role or seek employment, as this would be masculinising.
How did baby boom impact suburbs?
Baby boom led to house builders buying farm land and developing suburbs around cities. 80,000 families were homed with convenient technologies for housewives and development of schools, playgrounds, and bowling alleys
What was the impact of suburbs on consumerism?
In 1956 the first air conditioned suburban shopping mall was developed in Minnesota. McDonalds was first opened in the 1950s with 228 outlets by 1961 as people could drive to eat. Entrepreneur Ray Kroc helped franchise the idea.
How did suburbs affect automobile culture?
Automobile culture blossoms as Eisenhower passed the Interstate Highway Act providing $26 billion to construct an integrated system.
What were arguments for and against suburbia?
Surburbia was personal space, freedom, mobility, and benefitting from the community. This clashed with the Soviet Union.
However, the right disliked sexual liberation while the left criticised suburbia, the yes man, and the housewife.
Why was suburbia criticised?
Suburbia – Critics felt that those in suburbs led monotonous lives with the Depression leading them to be fearful of financial insecurity. Suburbs also promoted the nuclear white family and were described as ‘vanilla suburbs.’
Why was the yes man criticised?
Yes-man – In an industrial capitalist system workers were no longer rewarded for individuality but rather had to be team workers and agree to demands of management.
Why was the suburban housewife criticised?
Suburban housewife – Women were subjugated by demands to be the housewife meeting the needs of their husband and children, which was to be targeted by feminists. Women did work but largely in clerics and service.
What did LBJ try to achieve?
Lyndon B Johnson, Democrat, succeeded Kennedy in 1963 after assassination. He was to bring a Great Society with reform in civil rights but problems to reform included: lack of uniting; opposition from conservatives, some women; neither political party took causes up directly; radicals alienated mainstream.
What issues united and divided women?
The NOW conference of 1967 dealt with women having agency over their reproductive lives. Women’s groups united in aims such as maternity leave, tax concessions for housewives, employment, education, and political organisation involvement. Women’s Equity League Action which rejected abortion brought action against 300 discriminating schools and colleges.
