1. Socio-Economic Developments

11. Focus on Women General trends Legal equality slowly vanishing social, economic and political inequality Growing participation in the paid labor market (27% in 1940; 32% in 1950; 54% in 1960)

12. Cultural Assumptions after WW II Women are forced out of labor market Increase in employment rate. But: low-paid jobs Low medium marriage age (1956: 20.1 years) Baby boom

13. Polarization of Sex Roles Fathers: public sphere and work Mothers: domestic sphere, children, coffee klatch, neighborhood activities Perfect couples: Organization man and suburban housewife

14. The other side Alcoholism Divorce Tranquilizers („mothers little helper“) Marginalization of women in higher education, management and professions

15. Women’s Movement National Organization of American Women (founded 1966 by Betty Friedan): promoted “equal partnership with men” Successes slow but continuous change in perception of roles. Establishment of women’s studies programs at universities Increase in the overall female student population Women’s Liberation Movement: more radical and less mainstream. Prevention of “Miss America” elections Call for overthrow of patriarchal system and society Introduced “gender” as category

16. Betty Friedan (1921-2006): The Feminine Mystique (1963) The problem that has no name

17. Conflicting Trends Feminization of poverty Gains in politics, society, economy Legal action Affirmative action Griswold v. Connecticut (1965): contraceptives Roe v. Wade (1973): abortion

24. Focus: Environmentalism Late 19th century: emergence of conservationism resource management wild-life preserve By 1960: total membership of conservation organizations: ~300.000 Audobon Society: 1905 Wilderness Society: 1935 National Wildlife Federation (NWF): 1936 Rachel Carson: Silent Spring (1962)

25. Motivating Factors Affluent society synthetic revolution (plastics, fibers, chemicals, pesticides, nuclear power, detergents, etc.) Increase of "modern" diseases (alcoholism, drugs, suicide, insanity, violence, alienation, etc.) Urban crowding, suburban sprawl, pollution and smog, clear cuts and dammed rivers, cancer and nuclear fallout Growth of college-educated class: not just concerned with "standard of living", but with "quality of life"

26. Conflicting Trends Increase in media coverage since the 1970s Growth of environmental movement (by mid-1980s: 20-25 million activists) Ineffective green party ‚Washingtonization‘ of environmental organizations Effective legal action (between 1971 and 1988 more than 4.000 federal court decisions) Effective state legislation in some states (mostly Western states) Inactivity of the Federal Government (1980s - 2008), since then more active environmental policy