Women's Liberation Movement

Women’s Liberation Movement Key Successes: Awareness of women’s unequal status in society Legislation passed outlawing gender discrimination in the workplace Increased women’s political influence Roe vs Wade Women were demanding equal rights Spurred by Betty Friedan's Book, The Feminine Mystique Wanted greater emphasis on Fathers Roles Improved healthcare for women and access to legal abortions Women’s Liberation Movement Richard aoki

Feminism A new feminist movement began in the 1960s. Feminism- the belief that men and women should be equal politically, economically, and socially, began as early as the 1920s.

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Women’s Movement By the early 1960s, women became increasingly resentful of old stereotypes. Women in the workforce, the protest for equality increased Eleanor Roosevelt, urged President Kennedy to study the status of women

Feminine Mystique In 1963 Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique stirred up women all across the country. For the book, Friedan traveled around the country interviewing women who had graduated with her from Smith College in 1942. Friedan found that while women reported that they had everything they could want, they still felt unfulfilled. The book became a bestseller.

N.O.W. In June 1966, Betty Friedan felt it was time for a national women’s organization to promote women into mainstream America. National Organization for Women (NOW)- responded to many issues facing women. It demanded greater educational opportunities for women and denounced the exclusion of women from certain professions and political positions.

Progress for Women In 1963 the Equal Pay Act was passed. It outlawed paying men more than women for the same job. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act outlawed job discrimination. It became the legal basis for advances by the women’s movement.

Legislation Successes- greater equality for women in the educational system. federal legislation banning sex discrimination in education. In 1972 Title IX, prohibited federally funded schools from discriminating against girls in nearly all aspects of their operations, from admissions to athletics.

Equal Rights Amendments Proposed The Equal Rights Amendment has been introduced into every session of Congress between 1923 and 1972. First brought before Congress in 1923, the Equal Rights Amendment has been introduced into every session of Congress between 1923 and 1972. In its original form, the ERA advocated for the end of gender bias in 18 short words: Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction

Roe vs Wade By the late 1960s, some states began adopting liberal abortion laws regarding a woman’s mental health or in the case of rape or incest. The biggest change came with the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court ruled that state governments could no longer regulate abortion during the first three months of pregnancy, a time within a woman’s constitutional right to privacy. This gave rise to the right-to-life movement, whose members considered abortion morally wrong.

Roe vs Wade What do you think?

Shortcomings ERA still has not passed Women continue to face discrimination/inequality and sexual harassment in many arenas of employment Government sponsored childcare was never establish No paid maternity leave Click here and read through article