1. Women Fight for Equality
Chapter 23, Section 2 Notes

2. Objectives
Identify factors that led to the rise of the women’s movement in the 1960s
Describe some of the early gains and losses of the women’s movement
Summarize the legacy of the women’s movement in employment, education, and politics

3. Main Idea and Terms/Names
Through protests and marches, women confronted social and economic barriers in American society.
Betty Friedan
Feminism
NOW
Gloria Steinem
ERA
Phyllis Schlafly

4. Is this all? In 1957, Betty Friedan wrote the Feminine Mystique
Described a sense of dissatisfaction with being a housewife
Ignited “second wave of feminism”
Feminism – belief that women should have economic, political, and social equality with men

5. Women’s Movement The workplace – women were shut out of “men’s work”
Took clerical jobs, domestic service, social work, teaching, and nursing
Did not pay well
JFK appointed a Commission to study the status of women in 1961
Women paid less for same work
Women seldom promoted

6. Movement’s Gains and Losses
Women’s movement gained strength after civil rights movement
Civil Rights Act of Prohibited discrimination
NOW – National Organization for Women
Pursue women’s goals including child-care and ending discrimination in hiring

7. Movement’s Gains and Losses
New York Radical Women
Staged a demonstration at the Miss America Pagaent – tossed bras, wigs, etc.
Gloria Steinem – journalist and political activist
Helped found National Women’s Political Caucus – encourage women to run for political office
Created Ms. Magazine – treated issues
with a feminist perspective

8. Movement’s Gains and Losses
Legal Changes
1972 Higher Education Act – banned gender discrimination in education
Roe v. Wade – Supreme Court Decision
Women have the right to choose an abortion
Supported by NOW

9. Movement’s Gains and Losses
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) – called for equal protection under law
Passed Congress in 1972
Needed to pass 38 states too
A stop-ERA campaign was launched
Phyllis Schlafly and conservative religious groups opposed the ERA
New Right emerges to combat the ERA and abortion supporters
Pro-family coalition

10. Movement’s Gains and Losses
ERA only passed 35 of 38 states before the deadline
Defeated!
Glass Ceiling – women still can’t reach highest positions
Despite the defeat of the ERA, women’s attitudes towards careers and family were changed
Expanded career opportunities for women