Topic 11 - Feminist Movements in the 1960s and 1970s

Question 1

Why did the Women’s Liberation Movement (Feminist Movement) start in the 1960s? (Identify three reasons)

Answer 1

1. Betty Friedan published her book The Feminine Mystique (1963) → encouraged people to question the traditional female role in society.
2. Achievements of the Civil Rights Campaign → made women confident that they could also win greater rights.
3. Women had taken on new roles during WWII, but often lost these in the 1950s → women wanted to campaign for the opportunities they had had during the war.

Question 2

What law was passed in 1963?

Answer 2

The Equal Pay Act

Question 3

What did the Equal Pay Act (1963) state?

Answer 3

By law, women should be paid the same amount as men for doing the same job → women could challenge unequal pay in court.

Question 4

What were the limitations of the Equal Pay Act (1963)?

Answer 4

Employers could still pay men more if they had worked in the job for longer of if they had more qualifications.

Question 5

What methods did women use to campaign for equal opportunities and pay in the workplace?

Answer 5

1. Petitions
2. Threatened to take employers to court
3. Went on strike

Question 6

What evidence was there that women continued to receive unequal pay?

Answer 6

In 1972, women’s average pay was 70% of men’s average pay.

Question 7

What organisation was formed in 1966?

Answer 7

The National Organisation for Women (NOW)

Question 8

What did NOW create in 1967?

Answer 8

A Bill of Rights, which they argued that women in America should have.

Question 9

When was The National Organisation for Women (NOW) set up?

Answer 9

1966

Question 10

Identify four rights for women that NOW campaigned for.

Answer 10

1. Equal Rights Amendment (to the American Constitution)
2. Equal education
3. An end to sex discrimination in employment (including the right to maternity leave)
4. The right for women to control their reproductive lives (e.g. contraception and abortion)

Question 11

What ruling did the Supreme Court pass in 1972, which gave women greater control over their reproductive lives?

Answer 11

Contraception should be legally available to unmarried couples.

Question 12

When was contraception made available to unmarried couples?

Answer 12

1972

Question 13

What impact did access to contraception (1972) have on women?

Answer 13

It gave them control over their reproductive lives.

Question 14

What was the name of the Supreme Court decision made in 1973?

Answer 14

Roe v Wade

Question 15

When was the Roe v Wade Supreme Court ruling?

Answer 15

1973

Question 16

What did the Roe v Wade (1973) ruling state?

Answer 16

Abortion was legal and a fundamental right for women

Question 17

Identify two impacts of the Roe v Wade (1973) ruling.

Answer 17

1. Individual states could no longer declare abortion illegal.
2. All women had the right to have an abortion.

Question 18

When was the Equal Rights Amendment suggested?

Answer 18

1972

Question 19

How would the Equal Rights Amendment (1972) have benefitted women, if it had been introduced?

Answer 19

It would have given women equal rights to men in law.

Question 20

What happened to the Equal Rights Amendment (1972)?

Answer 20

It was dropped, and never added to the American Constitution.

Question 21

Why did the Equal Rights Amendment (1972) fail?

Answer 21

Not enough American states supported it (even though Congress did).

Question 22

Which two laws/rulings were opposed by many Americans most strongly?

Answer 22

1. Making contraception available to unmarried women (1972).

2. Roe v Wade - making abortion legal across America (1973).

Question 23

Why did many Americans oppose women being given greater rights?

Answer 23

1. Many women were happy with their status in society (especially if they were wealthier).
2. Many religious groups used the Bible to justify male domination in society.
3. Many Americans opposed abortion for moral and religious reasons.
4. Many Americans were concerned that contraception and abortion would lead to more people having sex outside marriage.

Question 24

Identify three ways some women protested against male sexism in America.

Answer 24

1. They invaded men’s clubs.
2. They publically burned sexist magazines that exploited women.
3. They criticised and protested against beauty contests.

Question 25

Identify three success of the Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1960s and 1970s.

Answer 25

1. Women gained greater control over their reproductive lives.
2. Women gained greater equality in the workplace.
3. Groups (such as NOW) brought attention and publicity to the need for greater rights for women.

Question 26

Identify three failures of the Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1960s and 1970s.

Answer 26

1. Women failed to get the Equal Rights Amendment added to the American Constitution.
2. Employers could still get away with paying women less than men.
3. Many people’s attitudes didn’t change, and sexism remained in American society.