Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique”
The Feminine Mystique Written by Betty Friedan in 1963 Interviews with “average middle class housewives” Findings: Many were bored, dissatisfied Impact Showed dissatisfied women they weren’t alone Start of modern feminist movement
The Feminist Movement Goals Equal pay Equal opportunity Physical safety “Women’s Liberation”
Women’s Liberation Gloria Steinem—”A woman without a man, is like a fish without a bicycle” Angela Davis—Black Panther & Feminist
National Organization for Women (NOW) Political action group for women’s equality Led by Betty Friedan Goals: Equal pay 1966 women earned 60% of men Today about 75% Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Like the 14th Amendment for women Passed by Congress, but not ratified by states
Successes of the Women’s Movement Equal Pay Act of 1963 Women’s equality part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Widespread acceptance of feminist ideals Roe v. Wade 1973 Court case affirming abortion rights
Miss America Pageant, 1969
Native American Movement
American Indian Movement (AIM) Formed in 1968 Inspired by other freedom movements Goals: Indian political and economic growth By far the poorest, weakest Americans Lowest life expectancy Indian cultural rebirth Reasserting traditional Indian Ways Medicine, religion, dress, etc.
AIM activists take over Wounded Knee, SD in 1973
Indian Activists “discover” & take over Alcatraz Island, 1969-1971
70’s Native American Literature
Cesar Chavez, 1927-1993
Cesar Chavez Organized the United Farm Workers (UFW) with Dolores Huerta in 1962 A believer in Gandhian non-violence A union for farm workers Mostly Mexican & Filipino Poorest of the poor Unskilled Little hope of any success Actually got growers to sign union contracts Dolores Huerta
Farm Worker Conditions Brutal hours Low pay Terrible living conditions Cancer causing pesticides
How Chavez Succeeded Strictly non-violent Cross-racial organizing Nationwide grape & lettuce boycotts Protest Fasts
The Chicano Movement The Brown Berets Goals A Chicano Black Panthers Latino civil rights Latino economic improvement Bilingual education Immigration reform Enhancing Latin American culture
An Excerpt From Yo Soy Joaquin (I Am Joaquin) by Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales, 1967 And now the trumpet sounds, The music of the people stirs the Revolution, Like a sleeping giant it slowly rears its head to the sound of Tramping feet Clamoring voices Mariachi strains Fiery tequila explosions The smell of chile verde and Soft brown eyes of expectation for a better life. And in all the fertile farm lands, the barren plains, the mountain villages, small smeared cities We start to MOVE. La Raza! Mexicano! Español! Latino! Hispano! Chicano! or whatever I call myself. I look the same. I feel the same I cry and Sing the same. I am the masses of my people and I refuse to be absorbed. I am Joaquin The odds are great but my spirit is strong My faith unbreakable My blood is pure I am Aztec Prince and Christian Christ I SHALL ENDURE! I WILL ENDURE!
Chicano Movement Corky Gonzales
Gay Rights Movement Gays and Bisexuals had to be secret about their lives & suffered discrimination June 27, 1969—the “Stonewall Rebellion” Police attacked a gay bar in NYC Patrons fought back Birth of the gay rights movement
The Stonewall Rebellion
The Environmental Movement Realization that technology & population could destroy the planet 1st Earth Day in 1969