Social changes 1960s & 1970s

Revival of Women’s Rights After the success of the 19th Amendment there was no real organized Women’s Rights movement until the 1960s Part of the revival is motivated by inequalities in the workplace. After WWII more and more women were joining the work force As reported by the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, ordered by JFK in 1961, women experienced discrimination at work and made less than their male counterparts

Revival of Women’s Rights The Feminine Mystique written by Betty Friedan in 1963 explored women’s feelings about their domestic lives. Friedan surveyed many college-educated women, many of which said that they felt trapped by the domestic expectations placed on women. The Feminine Mystique helped to spark a national debate about the roles and rights of women.

Women’s Liberation Movement The basic belief that motivated the Women’s Liberation Movement is feminism Feminists cheered the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as it also banned gender discrimination. Like the Civil Rights Movement the Women’s Liberation Movement’s struggle did not end in ‘64. In 1966 the National Organization for Women (NOW) formed to fight gender discrimination and domestic violence

Roe v. Wade 1973s Roe v. Wade struck down state laws that banned abortions. This case is one that is still creating controversy today. Supporters felt that it was an issue of women’s rights and women’s health. Opposition felt that it was immoral and that privacy rights did not constitutionally extend that far.

Effects of the Women’s Rights Movements The movement experienced some early successes. Employment in professional areas increased and more women congressmen elected. In 1972, Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman in Congress, became the first woman to run for President. The movement lost momentum in the late 1970s Average women felt that the movement had lost touch with real women’s issues.

Rise of the Counterculture The Counterculture of the 1960s was a rebellion of young people against mainstream society These people, or hippies, wanted to turn away from the “establishment” and have a society of peace and love Rebellion against the norm was not new. The Beat Generation of the 50s also questioned main stream values. Beatniks like author Jack Keruoac wrote about and experimenting with nonconformist lifestyles Beatniks inspired the rise of hippie culture

Rise of the Counterculture Another reason for this rise in counterculture was a large increase in young Americans. This younger generation often blamed the world problems, like the threat of nuclear war and segregation, on their parents’ generation. They vowed to do things in a new way to eliminate these problems.

Student Activism Many students used college campuses to hold rallies and to try to spread their ideas The University of California at Berkley sought to end this practice by banning political activism at certain areas on campus. Students rebelled against this and the developments led to a large drawn out protest of and on from October to December of ‘64. Thousands of students took part including Mario Savio Eventually the university eased restrictions and the protest marked the beginning of the Free Speech Movement

Life in the Counterculture The hippies of the counterculture rejected mainstream expectations and created their own lifestyles Many created urban communities like San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district. Others created rural communes where they tried to live in tune with nature. Communes tried to spurn modern appliances and grow their own food and share all property

Hippie Culture Hippies sought new experiences in many ways Some turned to eastern religions like Buddhism Many others turned to illicit drugs like LSD to “expand their mind” They often expressed themselves with colorful clothing with bright prints or tie-dye. Some wore long hair and beards. African Americans began wearing Afros as a symbol of racial pride. Some wore flowers in their hair, becoming “flower children”

Height of Counterculture The height of the counter culture was the summer of ‘67 known as the Summer of Love. In 1969 one of the most recognized “hippie” and music festivals of all time took place in a small country town in New York It was held on a dairy farm after many venue locations turned them down because of the nature of the festival Ultimately more than 400,000 people would attend 32 acts performed including Credence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, and Jimi Hendrix

The Decline of Counterculture The Summer of Love was supposed to be the beginning of a new age. However, the drug use and lack of rules made this ideal hard to achieve and dangerous. Many people including Janice Joplin and Jimi Hendrix overdosed on illicit drugs. Hippie communities like the Haight-Ashbury District collapsed Also, some people took advantage of the counterculture like cult leader Charles Manson One of the main focal points of the counterculture, the Veitnam War, was winding down. By the early 70s the Counterculture had run its course

Mainstream Society Reacts Many people had a hard time dealing with the unkempt appearance of hippies Others had deeper problems with their ideas Their drug use and ideas of “free love” ran contrary to general morals of the time. People felt that American society was losing it’s moral compass.

J. Edgar Hoover’s Reaction (FBI Director) “It would be foolhardy for educators, public officials, and law enforcement officers to ignore or dismiss lightly the revolutionary terrorism invading college campuses. It is a serious threat to both the academic community and a lawful and orderly society.”

Counterculture’s Legacy While the counterculture did not last long it has had a lasting impact Many Americans became more casual in dress, and more open-minded about lifestyles and social behavior. Attitudes about sexual behavior loosened. Popular Culture began exploring topics that might have been considered taboo in the past There was a definite impact on art and music. Rock and Roll remains to this day as an outlet for young people to express themselves.