Women’s Liberation, Free Speech, Environmentalism, and the New Left

Origins of Women’s Liberation

American History Cold War, Consumerism, and the

other side of “The Good Life” Gendered discrimination within social

movements Middle class white kids rebel Vietnam War and opposition Government suppression of free-

speech

The Women’s Movement

19th Amendment Progressive

Reformism After Rosie the

Riveter “Leave it to Beaver” Betty Freidan, The

Feminine Mystique, 1963

“Women’s Liberation”

Patriarchy Biology = destiny Marriage & oppression Domestic Violence Equal Pay & Education College admissions The Glass Ceiling Reproductive Rights

and control over one’s body

Landmark Policies

1961: Kennedy: federal contractors must take "affirmative action to ensure that applicants are treated equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin." Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity.

1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964 Prohibited discrimination by large employers, whether or not they have government contracts. (Title VII)

1965: Johnson required government contractors to take affirmative action to expand job opportunities for minorities.

1967: Johnson included affirmative action for women.

1969: Nixon required Affirmative Action programs in Federal employment

1978: The U.S. Supreme Court in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, (1978) upheld the use of race as one factor in choosing qualified applicants for admission. Also ruled unlawful the University Medical School's practice of reserving seats in each entering class minority students

NOW

1966: National Organization of Women established due to the failure of the EEOC to enforce Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. 28 women $5

Task Forces: Family Life, Education, Employment, Media, Religion, Poverty, Legal and Political Rights

Landmarks

1960: FDA approved Contraceptive pill 1964: 33 states, Commissions on the Status of

Women 1967: NOW adopted passage of the Equal Rights

Amendment 1968: Women's Equity Action League (WEAL)

formed by anti-abortion, pro-women’s rights groups

1972: Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman to run for the U.S. presidency in the primary

1972: The ERA passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 84-8 and was sent to the states for ratification

1973: Roe v. Wade legalized abortion

Miscellaneous

Catholics used contraception as frequently as Jews and Protestants, according to a Texas survey (06/21/60)

Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike was sworn in as Prime Minister of Ceylon/Sri Lanka (1960)

1968: Women's liberation groups, joined by NOW, targeted the Miss America Beauty Contest in Atlantic City, leading to the “bra burning” myth

1974: AFL-CIO and YWCA reverse their positions and support the ERA

Debates & Divisions

Race & Class Equal rights &

labor unionism Individual rights

vs. group rights “Race or gender

first?” Who and what is

(a) feminist?