American History Chapter 23: An Era of Activism

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American History Chapter 23 An Era of Activism

• I. The Womens Movement

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Objectives

• Discover the background of the womens movement.
• Find out how women organized to gain support and
  to effect change.
• Observe the impact of feminism.
• Learn which groups opposed the womens movement
  and why.

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Bellringer

• List five words that help describe feminist and
  womens libber. Rank the words in order from
  most positive to most negative.
• Feminist Womens Libber

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A) Background of the Womens Movement

• Feminism theory of political, economic, and
  social equality of men and women.
• By 1960 full equality not yet
• Fight stereotype home, raise children
• WWII 38 of women in work force many have
  education and want to use it.

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a) Education and Employment

• 1950 - 25 of women had BA
• 1960 43 - discriminated at workplace
• Women not fired because thought would leave to
  raise a family shouldn't work anyway
• Low salaries

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b) The Impact of the Civil Rights Movement

• Black and white women used tactics they learned
  in the CRM to put towards the womens rights
  movement
• 1964 Civil Rights Act opponents but in it
  discrimination by sex hoping it would look
  ridiculous passed and gave women legal grounds
  to fight discrimination.
• Race, religion, or national origin

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B) Womens Groups Organize

• Betty Friedan 1963 The Feminine Mystique
  suburb living
• Kitchen support groups argued over working hard
  at work and not getting advancement
• NOW National Organization for Women group
  that sought fair pay and equal job opportunities
  wanted government to take women grievances more
  seriously.

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C) The Impact of Feminism

• 1970 march in New York drew tens of thousands of
  supporter (50th)
• Our Bodies, Ourselves encouraged women to
  understand their own health issues
• Gloria Steinem Ms. Magazine more feminist then
  Good Housekeeping and Ladies Home Journal.

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a) A Shift in Attitudes

• 1972 Higher Education Act no college sex
  discrimination
• 1971 National Womens Political Caucus formed
  to expand womens participation in politics
  (Shirley Chisholm)
• Geraldine Ferraro 1984 VP
• Issues such as child-care facilities, shelters
  for homeless women, health, and sexual harassment

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b) Roe v. Wade

• Roe v. Wade 1973 Supreme Court case that said
  states could not outlaw abortions in the first 3
  months citing personal privacy
• ERA Equal Rights Amendment would make
  discrimination based on a persons sex illegal -
  35 out of 38 - failed

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D) Opposition to the Womens Movement

• Phyllis Schlafly led movement against ERA (769)
• Said alimony would end and would be coed
  bathrooms
• Some women wanted to stay in the house who is
  going to raise the next generation?
• AA women believed it was not a priority racial
  issues come first.

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Review

• What was the background of the womens movement?
• How did women organize to gain support and to
  effect change?
• What was the impact of feminism?
• Which groups opposed the womens movement and why?