Women Flashcards
1900 - education and workforce stats?
50/50 high school graduates and women are 17% of the total workforce
1920 how many women working?
3.4 million - but women have no legal rights protecting them in the workplace
Which organisation set up in 1899 campaigned for the rights of women in the workplace?
National Consumer League NCL - want to improve wages + protective legislation for women and children + pressure on the government to provide aid for mothers and children
When was the Women’s Christian Temperance Union founded?
1874 - drunken men threatened the home, the women’s place as well as arguing it on a religious basis
Which two suffrage organisations were formed in 1869?
NWSA - Stanton and Anthony AWSA - Lucy Stone
In 1890 which two suffrage organisations merged and what did they become?
NWSA and AWSA - NAWSA
What did NAWSA do?
The tactics were to lobby politicians, distribute leaflets and hold marches. However consisted of white middle-class women not appealing to African-Americans as Stanton (the leader) was racist and was against the black vote and them generally. Evidence of internal divisions
What did NAWSA do and how did it do it?
Pivotal in passing the 19th amendment - its aims was to convince the public a female vote was a positive amendment to the constitution. It achieve this through recruiting celebrities to draw attention to the cause and using the media as a focal point for campaign.
Which organisation was set up in 1913 to attempt to achieve the vote?
Congressional Union for Women’s Suffrage - set up by Alice Paul, A militant activist who organised mass them straightens but received a prison sentence - weakens plight
Conclusion of 1865-1914
Significant change in American economy however only gives opportunities to unmarried white women as society demands them to be in the home. Right to vote gained however little use. Socially and economically there is little change for women.
What did the 1920s bring?
Industrialisation brought more jobs for unmarried women. Emergence of the flappers, liberal women evidence of changing society. Better technology meant easier life for women in the home and more time to work
Job opportunities in the 1920s stats
Working class married women increased their present in the workforce from 22.8% to 28.8%. Women entering the workforce increased by 2 million but men in the workforce show resentment towards female factory workers
1930s union membership
Female union membership increased from 265,000 to 800,000. Unions for women were exclusively white
1870 - percentage of unmarried women working?
13%
What was the result of the 1929 Wall Street crash?
End of the 1921 Shepherdstown act providing maternity pay. Also meant opportunities for women in the workplace quickly receded
Attitudes to women working 1936
1936 Gallup poll suggest 86% were against women working. Society demands them to be in the home
Three acts of Roosevelt’s new deal
Social Security act 1935 - welfare benefits for poor families benefited married women
Aid to dependent children 1935 - helped women with young families who couldn’t work but had to go through humiliating application
fair labour standards act 1938 - set minimum wage levels
How many women in politics were there in 1939?
Nine, Frances Perkins was one of them appointed in 1933 to be one of Roosevelts cabinet. However the negative reaction highlighted the entrance to prejudice of politicians and businessmen
When were and what were the Comstock laws?
1873 made the sale and distribution of contraception illegal
Who and when set up the first birth control clinic?
Margaret sanger 1916 but was closed by police
What birth control organisation was established in 1921
American Birth Control League ABCL - 27,500 members by 1924
First legal birth control clinic?
1923 Financial backing from John D Rockefeller met with powerful opposition from religious organisations and politicians
When did the Comstock laws end?
1938 but still no recognition for women to choose - illegal backstreet abortions continued for many especially poorer women
When was and what was on the 18th amendment?
1917 bands alcohol
AAPA?
Association against the probation amendment 1918 - divisions amongst women
Anti-saloon league?
Established in 1893 used successful lobbying tactics and propaganda
WONPR?
Women’s organisation for National probation reform formed in 1929 - Pauline Sabine led to the movement - 1.5 million members by 1931 Helen rallies and lobbied eventually resulting in the 21st Amendment in 1933 ending probation. Female involvement in this was crucial to its passing
Conclusions to the prohibition campaign? Summary
Although successful did nothing to improve rights for women especially not that position and role in society. Show the protection of the home was what was most important for American women. But also showed it when women worked collaboratively changes could happen and that they could be a force to be reckoned with
Conclusions 1915-40?
Little civil rights progress made still great prejudice amongst society opportunities for women remains limited
World War II employment statistics?
By 1945 5 million more women working than in 1940.
350,000 women join the armed forces broadening their horizons.
75% of women wanted to remain in jobs.
Social climate towards women at the end of the war? Legislation?
Huge propaganda campaign to encourage women back into the home.
Evident through the GI bill of rights in 1944 encouraging X servicemen access to higher education and provided funding so men pushed women out of the job market and ensured they retained the higher jobs
Employment stats in 1960?
Twice as many women working in 1960 and 1940 perhaps due to the economic change in the USA and the emergence of the service industry (1950 as well)
What did the Civil Rights act of 1964 do?
Banned discrimination due to gender. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission failed to satisfy demand of women for equality. Example would be the airline hostesses being sacked at 32
1963 contribution to new feminism?
Betty Friedan the feminine mystique, compares life at home to living in a suburban concentration camp
NOW
Formed in 1966 by Betty Friedan. Use lawsuits the file for change and tackle discrimination. in 1968 it became more aggressive
NARAL
National Association for The repeal of abortion laws. Divisions in the women’s movement became deeper and anti-feminism began to rise
How many women were in politics in 1969?
11
Conclusions 1941 to 1969
Women only occupied Lopresti jobs and no powerful political voice for females however there was a notable change in cultural belief surrounding Women in the workplace and at home
Magazine in 1972
Gloria Steinem’s Ms - feminist magazine changing attitudes of young women towards being in the workplace
When was and what happened because of the Roe vs Wade Supreme Court case?
1973 if that was the woman’s right to legal abortion. Turning point
Equal rights Amendment details
Passed in 1972 but not ratified. Thanks to Phillis Schlafly anti-feminist. Had it been passed constitutionally women would,be equal to men on every basis
When was the equal pay act?
1964
Clinton’s presidency
Gave women huge opportunities in politics
When was there equal credit opportunity act
1974
What and when was whole house founded?
1889 social centre for immigrant families
When was the National Association of coloured women set up?
1896, created by Ida B Wells, centred on attaining the vote passing antilynching legislation and focusing on education
