1. Chapter 23.2 Women’s Fight for Equality
Feminism is the belief that women should have economic, political and social equality
Awakened in the 1960s

2. Workplace In 1950 only one of three women worked for wages
Women faced obstacles such as “men’s work”
Female jobs: clerical, domestic service; retail sales; social workers; teaching and nursing
All for low wages

3. Kennedy’s Presidency
JFK 1961 established the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women
Women were not being promoted in businesses, and were paid less than men doing the same job

4. Activism
Working on the Civil rights and Anti-War movements gave women the training to organize
“The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Freidan when published helped to fuel the Women’s Movement
The creation of NOW National Organized of Women is formed

5. Betty Friedan & Gloria Steinem

6. Civil Rights Act of 1964
Prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, national origin or gender
NOW in the first three years grew to 175,000 members
Gloria Steinem a journalist created MS Magazine in 1972

7. Legal & Social Gains
1972 Congress passed a ban on gender discrimination in “any education program or activity” receiving federal funding
Working parents also received tax credit for child care expenses if both parents worked

8. Legal
Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision saying that a women had the right to chose an abortion with in the first 3 months of pregnancy
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) would change constitution to say all men and women are created equal
Phyllis Schlafly conservative movement against ERA. Scared women said if passed women would be drafted
New Right conservative against abortion and ERA

9. Conservative Phyllis Schlafly
Believed women had the right to be supported by their husbands.
Equality would mean higher divorce

10. Legacy of Women’s Movement
1977 ERA had won approval from 35 of 38 states it needed. Never passed.
Movement expanded career and educational opportunities for women. Women started applying to medical and law school