Women's Movement Flashcards
1
Q
What was the role of women before 1960?
A
- WW1 expanded job opportunities for women
- But society expected women to prioritise being a housewife and bringing in children post-marriage
- Companies often dismissed married female employees
2
Q
What role did Eleanor Roosevelt play in the women’s movement?
A
- Wife of four time president FDR
- Advocated for women’s rights
- Held women-only press conference as First Lady
- Exploited the medium or radio and journalism to increase support for women’s rights and legislation and to protect them
- Pressured her husband to employ more women
3
Q
What did Eleanor Roosevelt’s advocacy lead to?
A
- President’s Commission on the Status of Women
- Revealed significant workplace gender inequality
4
Q
What was Kennedy’s Equal Pay Act (1963)?
A
Prohibiting pay discrimination for the same job
5
Q
What was the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
A
- Made it illegal to discriminate based on gender
- Protected women
6
Q
What social changes occurred post-1960?
A
- Appliance and consumerism encouraged dual-income households as it gave more time for women to work
- Contraceptive pill allowed women to plan families careers and education, however access varies from state to state
7
Q
What did Betty Friedan do?
A
- Her book ‘The Feminine Mystique’ challenged the old myth of women’s place and happiness in life was a child-bearer and homemaker
- Described it as restrictive and unfulfilling
- Gained widespread support
8
Q
What was NOW?
A
- National organisation for Women (pressure group)
- Formed in 1966 by Friedan and feminists
- Purpose was to pressure congress into enforcing new laws
- NOW’s ‘Bill of Rights’ was drafted
- Used tactics such as protests, strikes, petitions and taking legal action
9
Q
What were the achievements and criticisms of NOW?
A
- Secured 30 million in back pay for unequal pay cases
- Organised Women’s Strike for Equality, largest protest (50,000 people), drew attention to unequal pay
- Raised awareness on gender issues but seen as too moderate/radical by some
- Focused primarily on the educated upper and middle class
- Working class women were under-represented and less focus was on their concerns
10
Q
What was the women’s liberation movement?
A
- More radical than NOW
- Held aggressive protests (e.g. In the Miss America contest where a sheep was crowned instead)
- Seeking the destruction of existing system
- Free women from the limitations of patriarchal society
- Umbrella organisation - several groups with distinct aims
- Believed that only lesbians could achieve true liberation from the system, meaning complete isolation of men
11
Q
What led to the legalisation of abortion nationwide?
A
- Women’s groups campaigned for abortion rights
- Led to Roe v Wade
- Made abortion more accessible
12
Q
Explain two effects of the women’s movement
A
- Increased legal protectections and workplace equality: led to legislation such as the Equal Pay Act and the Civil Rights Act, created a foundation for better treatment, empowered women to challenge, NOW resulted in 30 million pay back
- Abortion rights: Friedan’s ‘The Feminine Mystique’, changing mentalities, realisation for other women to call for laws about their own body and life choices, contraceptive pill enabled them to pursue education and careers while planning families
13
Q
Was abortion legal in the US?
A
- Illegal unless the mother’s life was threatened
- Organised campaigning for the legalisation of abortion began in the 1960s
14
Q
What were the two main arguments of the WLM and NOW about abortion?
A
- Woman’s right to choose as it was her body
- Deaths at the hands of ‘backstreet abortionists’ would be eliminated
15
Q
What progress was made regarding abortion in legal terms?
A
- Beginning of 1970s, high profile states like New York, allowed abortion until the 24th week of pregnancy
- Five other states followed
16
Q
How did the WLM and NOW help women who wanted abortions?
A
- Drew on their financial resources
- Funded travel and accommodation to women to visit those states for abortions
17
Q
What happened in 1973 regarding abortion?
A
