1. L26 : Second Wave Feminism & Feminist Activism: 1960s & 1970s Building a Movement & Legislative Accomplishments for Equality The Struggle for Equality Agenda Objective: To understand… 1.The theory, organization, and action of second-wave feminism. 2.The legislative accomplishments of second-wave feminism Schedule: 1.Lecture & Discussion Homework 1.Work on Unit Paper Check-In: Thurs 1/28 Final Paper: Fri 2/12 by 2:30 2.Talk about test date! 3.

2. The Feminine Mystique Sparks Second- Wave Feminism In 1963, Betty Friedan publishes the Feminine Mystique What is “the feminine mystique”? How does “the feminine mystique” marginalize women? In the book, Friedan identifies something called “the problem with no name.” What is this problem? What is the source of women’s marginalization/oppression? If this is women’s problem, what does it suggest about what the nature of the women’s rights movement will be?

3. The Feminine Mystique Sparks Second- Wave Feminism Many women are dissatisfied with the return to domesticity that the end of World War Two brings. Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan, 1963 –Exposes the unhappiness and lack of fulfillment many women feel as housewives –Awakens women to the fact that the ideal of feminine fulfillment is an oppressive ideology and that their personal struggles are not personal, but an outgrowth of systematic oppression Feminine Mystique helps spark what is known as second-wave feminism

4. Presidential Commission on the Status of Women 1961 Established by President Kennedy Chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt 1963 the Commission released a report called, The Presidential Report on American Women –Report documented widespread workplace discrimination –Recommended affordable child care, equal employment opportunity for women, and paid maternity leave Significant because it “proves” the inequality alluded to by Friedan and others –Women don’t just “feel” they are being treated unfairly, they objectively are!

5. Second-Wave Feminism 1960-early 1980s Also called: –Women’s Rights Movement –Women’s Liberation Movement Focus: –Not focused on one issue –Not an issue driven movement, instead it is a theory lead movement designed to identify and expose a central institution of oppression in women’s lives, and then make widespread change across a range of issues in an effort to undo that source of oppression. –“The personal is political” What do you think this means?

6. Four Goals/Agendas of Second-Wave Feminism Develop a Feminist Theory Raise Awareness of Female Oppression Among Women Organize Act Protest & Activism Legislative Changes

7. Develop a Feminist Theory

8. Emergence of a Feminist Theory In the 1960s, scholars began to develop a feminist theory to expose the structure of oppression at work in women’s lives. The goal is to point out that women’s persecution is a structural, not personal, issue. Feminist theory asserts that women are oppressed as a result of the social system of patriarchy. –Patriarchy is a social system in which males are the primary authority figures, occupying roles of political power, moral authority, control over the family, and control over property. Patriarchy also includes the oppression of minorities and homosexuals as part of a broader system designed to subordinate women. –Feminist theory argues that ridding society of patriarchy will result in liberation for women, men, minorities, and gays.

9. Denied Suffrage Laws prohibiting women from divorce Ideology of Feminine Fulfillment Gender Gap in Pay Gendered Division of Household labor Patriarchy

10. Variants of Feminist Theory Liberal Feminism (MAIN!) Argues that all people are created equal by nature and deserve equal rights. Equality is obscured because social institutions are designed in accordance with patriarchy. Need to reform social institutions to make them more equitable Support legislation that remove barriers to equality for women. Key Figures: – Betty Friedan –Gloria Steinem Radical Feminism Men and women are both equal, but they are fundamentally different. –Though some, like Mary Daly, say women are superior. Social institutions have been designed to relegate women to inferior roles and positions. Overthrow this system by any possible means. Key Figures –Mary Daly Mary Daly taught at BC for 33 years. She retired in 1999 after violating the university’s policy by refusing to allow male students in her advanced women’s studies classes. She allowed male students in her introductory class and privately tutored those who wanted to take advance classes. Feminist Separatism Heterosexuality/Heterosexual sex is a political institution through which gender oppression is maintained. Two solutions… –Radical-Libertarian Separatism: Women should control every aspect of their sexuality—redefine sex. Advocate artificial means of reproduction so that less time is devoted to pregnancy –Lesbian-Separatism: The only way to completely escape patriarchy is for men and women to separate and practice homosexuality, allowing women to be in complete control of their sexuality.

11. Raise Awareness

12. With Feminist Theory established, leaders in the feminist movement begin raising awareness of women’s oppression. The tool they use to do this is Consciousness-Raising

13. What is consciousness-raising? "I think a lot about being attractive," Ann said. "People don't find the real self of a woman attractive." And then she went on to give some examples. And I just sat there listening to her describe all the false ways women have to act: playing dumb, always being agreeable, always being nice, not to mention what we had to do to our bodies, with the clothes and shoes we wore, the diets we had to go through, going blind not wearing glasses, all because men didn't find our real selves, our human freedom, our basic humanity "attractive." And I realized I still could learn a lot about how to understand and describe the particular oppression of women in ways that could reach other women in the way this had just reached me. The whole group was moved as I was, and we decided on the spot that what we needed -- in the words Ann used -- was to "raise our consciousness some more."

14. Consciousness-Raising Why does the women’s movement need consciousness-raising? –What does it suggest about the type of oppression women face? How does consciousness raising help women to understand their oppression, rather than just seeking change around one issue?

15. Organize

16. The National Organization for Women Women active in the Civil Rights realize that if women are going to want to make change they need to organize! Need to create a “NAACP for Women” They form the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966. –Betty Friedan was the group’s first President

17. NOW In 1968 the group issued a Bill of Rights Discuss the NOW Bill of Rights 1968 –What rights do they demand? –How do they propose securing these rights? –Overall, how would you characterize the vision of Second-Wave Feminism Based on this Bill of Rights?

18. Act

19. Act Through Activism Women begin to protest, speak out, and march in large numbers Protests are “in your face” They protest over a wide-range of issues: –Political inequality –Economic inequality –Cultural degradation of women Example: 1968 Protest of the Miss America Pageant –How does this protest exemplify the feminist theory of second-wave feminism?

23. Act: Legislative Change Equal Pay Act 1963Civil Rights Act 1964No Fault Divorce Laws 1970-2010Marital Rape Laws 1975-1993Title X 1970Title IX 1972Pregnancy Discrimination Act 1978

24. Equal Pay Act of 1963 States that no employer may pay lower wages to employees of one gender than it pays to employees of the other gender employees within the same establishment for equal work at jobs that require equal skill, effort and responsibility, and that are performed under similar working conditions. Huge step forward for gender equity in employment But…Does not address inter- occupational inequality for jobs that require the same skill. –Maid vs. Janitor –“Comparable Worth” Argument Signed into law by President Kennedy

25. Civil Rights Act 1964 Law that outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, as well as women. Act was originally intended to end racial inequality, and said nothing about women. –U.S. Rep Howard W. Smith (VA) added the word “sex” to the Act in an effort to derail the measure so African Americans would not gain Civil Rights. –However, the entire Act passed into law without floor debate. For the first time the United States had a law against sex discrimination in federally-funded public accommodations

27. No-Fault Divorce No-fault divorce is a divorce in which the dissolution of the marriage does not require proof of wrongdoing by either party. In 1970, California became the first state to pass no-fault divorce. In 2010, New York became the last state.

29. Illegalization of Marital Rape Many United States rape statutes precluded the prosecution of spouses, including estranged, or even legally separated couples. In 1975 South Dakota became the first U.S. state to remove this exception. In 1993, North Carolina became the last state to remove the exemption. However, as of 1999, 33 of 50 U.S. states regarded spousal rape as a lesser crime.

30. Title X (1970) Allots federal funds to a network of community-based clinics that provide contraceptive services, related counseling, and other preventative health services to low- income women and families. –Services include: contraception, breast and pelvic exams, breast and cervical cancer screenings, STD screening and treatment, HIV testing and counseling, and pregnancy counseling. Signed into law by President Nixon

31. Title IX (1972) Portion of the Education Amendments of 1972 States that: –No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance... In short, Prohibits sex discrimination in schools whether academic or athletic. Major effects on the equal creation and funding of women’s athletics Signed into law by President Nixon

34. Pregnancy Discrimination Act (1978) Prohibits sex discrimination on the basis of pregnancy. Specifically… –Hiring An employer cannot refuse to hire a pregnant woman because of her pregnancy, –Pregnancy and Maternity Leave An employer may not single out pregnancy-related conditions for special procedures to determine an employee's ability to work. If an employee is temporarily unable to perform her job because of her pregnancy, the employer must treat her the same as any other temporarily disabled employee. Pregnant employees must be permitted to work as long as they are able to perform their jobs. Employers must hold open a job for a pregnancy-related absence the same length of time jobs are held open for employees on sick or disability leave.