Theme 3: Society and Culture Flashcards
Feminist Movement
National Organisation for Women (NOW) set up in 1966 by Betty Friedan. 1970: 40,000 members. Attacked discrimination and between 1966-71 got back $30mil in pay owed to women on less wages than men. 1968: overturned rule that air hostesses were fired at 32 or when they married. Never achieved Equal Rights Amendment
Radical feminist movement
‘Radical Women’ crowned sheep as Miss America in 1968 as they argued it made women look inferior. Threw dishcolthes, bras, playboy mag and make-up in bin. Burning bras led to ridicule and myth that all feminists burn bras. They were counter-productive and not effective because they were deemed as too radical.
Legal Challenge
- 1972: Eisentadt V Baird meant single women allowed pill. In 1962 2.3mil married women were on it
- 1972: Roe V Wade allowed women to have abortions. Was made extremely difficult in some states
Impact of WW2 on women
350,000 served, 5mil entered workforce (mainly plants and factories) between 1940-45. Opportunity to move into industry deemed exclusive to men. Majority of women worked on aircraft in 1943. Laid foundarion for women to work. 75% of women wanted to continue working after war but they were laid off in large numbers.
Impact of Suburbia on women
Emphasised conformity and sameness -> little room for change (divorce, job loss, social movement). 85% of new US homes were suburbs between 1948-58. Only 30% of women worked outside home in 1950s. Told greatest satisfaction came from being housewife and bringing up children. Backward step after war
Society affected by migration (negatively)
‘New’ immigration poor, illiterate, stuck together, wore native dress and spoke native language. Held with contempt by WASPs.
Dillingham Commission (setup 1907, released 1911) deemed ‘new’ immigrants less intelligent when they were just peasnats + illiterate. Didn’t assimilate to US culture and brought communist ideas. Proved in Red Scare which justified Emergency Quota Act of 1921 which limited amount of migrants
Impact of WW2 on migrants
Positive - 1942-64 4.6mil Mexicans signed up by US as ‘Braceros’ to work in Texas and California on temporary contracts. Accelerated acceptance of immigrants from South and East Europe as 27mil Americans moved/lost homes to work/serve meaning Americans of all backgrounds worked together. The Office of War Information (OWI) created by FDR in 1942 stressed coorperation among everyone.
Negative - Italian, German and Japanese descendants viewed as ‘enemy aliens’. Japanese treated worse due to Pearl Harbour in 1941, 120,000 Japanese shut up in US internment camps. Less than 1% of German and Italians interned. Despite this, Chinese benefited as viewed as ‘good asians’ because they were ally of US.
Cold War impact on migrants
- Inreased leniency on migration: alowed 200,000 Cubans between 1959-62 to move to US as escaping communism. After fall of Saigon to North Vietnames in 1975, US took 130,000 Vietnamese. As a result of the 1965 Immigration and Naturalization act which changed demographic makeup of US to more Asian and Latin American as opposed to European.
Successful Government policy on immigration
- Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965: policy based on reuniting immigrant families and attracting skilled labour to US. 1970-80 - Asian immigrants grew 308% from 825,000 to 2.8mil. South American immigrants increased by 285% in 1960s and 220% in 1970s.
- Emergency Immigration Act 1921 - only 350,000 immigrants a year, annual limit on Europeans to 3% of number of nationals already in US. Favoured WASPs (4/5 of the places reserved for them). By 1929 120,000 immigrants a year; 85% reserved for Northern + Souther Europeans
Unsuccessful Government policy on immigration
1970: illegal migration had tripled and 4/5 were Mexican. 1976 Immigration Act: limit of 20,000 immigrants a year due to huge number of hispanics. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986: imposed sanctions on employers willing employing illegal immigrants. Hated as drove wages down Despite 1mil illegal immigrantts being deported in 1980 by mid 1980s 3-5mil still in US. 2.7 mil illegal immigrants who lived in US for 5 years became citizens.
Economic Migrants
‘American Dream’ of 1920s. 1900-1920 14 mil immigrants. 1/3 Chicago 2.3mil population foreign born. Congregatted in ghettos, accpeted lower pay and working as strike breakers brough wages downa and contributed to American-born unemployment
TV impact on society
Used for advertising during baby boom targeting children and sold goods with ‘special offers’. Ads rarely showed black americans (firs in 1963). Eisenhower used it in Presidency campaign in 1952. Starting to become pre-recorded: 1953 - 80% live, 1960 - 36% live, by 1970s only sport and news live. Criticozed for glamourizing violence and crime.
Radio impact on society
Fireside chats by FDR 1933-1944 speaking about policies, recession New Deal + WW2. Could quell any rumours and public held him in high regard.
First radio statio KDKA 1922, first national one NBC 1926. Made popular music (jazz) available to everyone and encouraged new trends.
Films impact on society
Until 1920s all films silent; first talking one was Al Jolson doing black face
Boom in cinema after WWI, 1930s most theatres changed main title twice a week and by 1941 10.5mil move seats (a seat for every 12.5 people). Provided escapism and new trends (Clara Bow ‘It’ girl). New industry with 20 fan magazines with a circulation between 200 and 1mil
