Women's civil rights - political campaign 1960-1992

Question 1

when + What is NOW?

Answer 1

The National Organisation for Women (1966)

• NOW brought legal action against employers who broke (1967) executive order 11375 against sex discrimination by companies with federal contracts.

Question 2

What was the report on american women?

Answer 2

(1963)
* study commissioned by Kennedy, was worked on by highly educated women.
* highlighted the statistics of unequality amongst women
* This recommended the Equal Pay act which was passed in (1963)

Question 3

What is
(WEAL) ?

Answer 3

• They brought action against 300 schools and colleges that discriminated against women.
• Rejected NOW’s support for abortion reform,

Question 4

How did ERA become more militant?

Answer 4

• (1972) 20,000 women striked, calling for full equality.

Question 5

What is Nixon’s silent majority (1969-74)?

Answer 5

• Large Conservative middle class who opposed social change.
• The move towards conservatism led by Reagan, was able to prevent the ERA being ratified.

Question 6

What was the political movement of the 1970s and 80s?

Answer 6

• 80,000-100,000 women participated in some kind of women’s group in the 70s.
• The social agenda was wider, health, abortion, marriage, divorce, sexuality and rights for older and working women.

Question 7

What was the economic inequality of women stats?

wages post 50s

Answer 7

• Female wages were
  63% of men’s in 1956
  56% of mens in 1973.
• no tax relief for children until 1977

Question 8

What was the situation by 1992 - econ + political position?

e.g sc judge woman

Answer 8

• Despite the equal pay act 1963, women were paid 32% less than men.
• It was not until 1981 that a women was appointed to the supreme court - Sandra Day O’Conner.

Question 9

What are the statistics of women in the House of Representatives and Senate?

Answer 9

• (HoR) never rose above 6% at the end of the period - women never truly represented
• Number of female senators maxed out at 4 out of 100.

Question 10

what was the Equal Rights amendment

Answer 10

• proposed in (1923)
• would explicitly prohibit sexual discrimination
• Passed congress In (1972) - ratified by 35/38 states needed

Question 11

percentage of unmarried women employed by 1870

Answer 11

13%

Question 12

Shepard tower act

Answer 12

(1921) - provided day care centres
- repealed In 1929