The Women’s Movement The Women’s Movement 1960-19731960-1973

Myth’s about the Women’s Myth’s about the Women’s MovementMovement

Myth- Women burned Myth- Women burned their brastheir bras

Truth- Women protested Truth- Women protested against anything that against anything that symbolized them as symbolized them as beauty objects.beauty objects.

They created “Freedom They created “Freedom Trash Cans” and threw Trash Cans” and threw away bras, girdles, hair away bras, girdles, hair curlers, curlers, PlayboyPlayboy and and CosmoCosmo magazines. magazines.

Miss AmericaMiss America

A major protest was staged in 1968 at the A major protest was staged in 1968 at the Miss America Beauty Pageant because it Miss America Beauty Pageant because it promoted “physical attractiveness” and promoted “physical attractiveness” and charm as the primary measures of a charm as the primary measures of a woman’s worth” (Sawhney 2004).woman’s worth” (Sawhney 2004).

Women especially objected to the swimsuit Women especially objected to the swimsuit portion of the contestportion of the contest

The Women’s Lib MovementThe Women’s Lib Movement

Many women believed they had been Many women believed they had been denied some basic rights and were denied some basic rights and were trapped in the house.trapped in the house.

The women that were employed believed The women that were employed believed they were discriminated against on the job they were discriminated against on the job because of their sex.because of their sex.

Women Speak Out!Women Speak Out!

In 1963, Betty Friedan, wrote the Feminine In 1963, Betty Friedan, wrote the Feminine Mystique, which had a huge impact on women in Mystique, which had a huge impact on women in the 1960s.the 1960s.Her book described how some women had Her book described how some women had become frustrated because they were expected become frustrated because they were expected to find fulfillment through the achievements of to find fulfillment through the achievements of their husbands and children. their husbands and children. Since the Civil Rights Movement was going on Since the Civil Rights Movement was going on at the same time, women used this opportunity at the same time, women used this opportunity to speak out for women’s rights.to speak out for women’s rights.

Health IssuesHealth Issues

Roe v Wade did not go into effect until Roe v Wade did not go into effect until 1973. Throughout the 60s, many women 1973. Throughout the 60s, many women went underground to secret clinics and went underground to secret clinics and had abortions which was very dangerous.had abortions which was very dangerous.

A huge achievement for women was when A huge achievement for women was when the Food and Drug Administration the Food and Drug Administration approved birth control pills.approved birth control pills.

Women in the WorkplaceWomen in the Workplace Many women were reluctant to leave home because she Many women were reluctant to leave home because she

felt guilty leaving the children.felt guilty leaving the children. According to Margaret Sanger, society believed that According to Margaret Sanger, society believed that

women should stay home and take care of the children. women should stay home and take care of the children. The number of working women did increase in the The number of working women did increase in the 1960s.1960s.

In the 1960s, there were no women bus drivers, welders, In the 1960s, there were no women bus drivers, welders, firefighters, news anchors, CEOs, or Supreme Court firefighters, news anchors, CEOs, or Supreme Court Justices. Justices.

Women made only 60% of what a man made, or 70 Women made only 60% of what a man made, or 70 cents for every dollar a man madecents for every dollar a man made

They were often denied credit by banks to start a They were often denied credit by banks to start a business.business.

NOWNOW

In 1966, the National Organization for Women was In 1966, the National Organization for Women was formed.formed.The purpose was to seek equality for men and women The purpose was to seek equality for men and women within the government, employment, labor unions, civic within the government, employment, labor unions, civic and political organizations. Most of the members were and political organizations. Most of the members were young women college graduates. These women also young women college graduates. These women also had antiwar view and were in favor of Civil Rights.had antiwar view and were in favor of Civil Rights.There was also a group of women who belonged to There was also a group of women who belonged to NOW that were more radical who challenged the male NOW that were more radical who challenged the male dominated power structure and who fought against dominated power structure and who fought against women being seen as sex symbols. They also focused women being seen as sex symbols. They also focused on issues involving violence, reproductive rights, and on issues involving violence, reproductive rights, and women and housework. women and housework. NOW during the sixties failed to include minority groups, NOW during the sixties failed to include minority groups, and the working class.and the working class.

A little known factA little known fact

During the 1960s, 13 women were secretly During the 1960s, 13 women were secretly trained by NASA in a secret lab as trained by NASA in a secret lab as astronauts, along with seven men. The astronauts, along with seven men. The program was called the “Mercury 13,” and program was called the “Mercury 13,” and it was scrapped because it lacked political it was scrapped because it lacked political support.support.

In ConclusionIn Conclusion

Women’s Rights did Women’s Rights did not stop in the 1960s. not stop in the 1960s. During the 70s, the During the 70s, the ERA was proposed, ERA was proposed, and even though it and even though it was defeated in the was defeated in the 1982, women have 1982, women have made great strides.made great strides.

Timeline of Events leading up to the Timeline of Events leading up to the Women’s Movement of the 1960sWomen’s Movement of the 1960s

1769- the husband and wife are one person1769- the husband and wife are one person 1776- Abigail Adams “Remember the Ladies”1776- Abigail Adams “Remember the Ladies” 1777- all states adopt laws to take away a women’s right to vote1777- all states adopt laws to take away a women’s right to vote 1778- Deborah Sampson disguises herself as a man to fight on the1778- Deborah Sampson disguises herself as a man to fight on the battlefield in the American Revolutionbattlefield in the American Revolution 1839- Mississippi grants women the right to hold property with 1839- Mississippi grants women the right to hold property with their husband’s permissiontheir husband’s permission 1848- Seneca Falls- Declaration of Sentiments1848- Seneca Falls- Declaration of Sentiments 1850- The first Women’s Rights Convention (Mass.)1850- The first Women’s Rights Convention (Mass.) 1869- first Woman suffrage law is passed in Wyoming, and the1869- first Woman suffrage law is passed in Wyoming, and the American Woman Suffrage Association is formedAmerican Woman Suffrage Association is formed 1870- women are excluded from the right to vote by the 151870- women are excluded from the right to vote by the 15thth amendmentamendment 1873- 1873- Bradwell v IllinoisBradwell v Illinois, Supreme Court rules that a state can deny , Supreme Court rules that a state can deny a married woman from practicing lawa married woman from practicing law

1879- Belva Lockwood with the help of Congressional legislation is 1879- Belva Lockwood with the help of Congressional legislation is the first women to try a case before the Supreme Courtthe first women to try a case before the Supreme Court 1890- Wyoming gives women the right to vote in all elections,1890- Wyoming gives women the right to vote in all elections, National Americana Women’s Suffrage Association isNational Americana Women’s Suffrage Association is formed formed 1893- Colorado is the first state to pass an amendment giving 1893- Colorado is the first state to pass an amendment giving

women the right to votewomen the right to vote 1896- The National Women’s Trade Union League seeks to 1896- The National Women’s Trade Union League seeks to improve wages for womenimprove wages for women 1900- married women gain control over their property and earnings1900- married women gain control over their property and earnings 1908- 1908- Muller v OregonMuller v Oregon uphold 10 hr workday for women uphold 10 hr workday for women 1916- Margaret Sanger opens up the first U.S. birth control clinic1916- Margaret Sanger opens up the first U.S. birth control clinic 1920- Women receive federal suffrage with the 191920- Women receive federal suffrage with the 19thth amendment amendment 1923- National Women’ Party proposes Constitutional Amendment, men1923- National Women’ Party proposes Constitutional Amendment, men and women shall be equaland women shall be equal 1932- National Recovery Act forbids more than one family member from 1932- National Recovery Act forbids more than one family member from

having a government job having a government job 1938- the fair Labor Standard Act establishes minimum wage for everyone 1938- the fair Labor Standard Act establishes minimum wage for everyone

regardless of sex regardless of sex 1947- 1947- Fay v New YorkFay v New York ruled women were equally qualified to serve on ruled women were equally qualified to serve on

juries as men, but have an exemption if they choosejuries as men, but have an exemption if they choose

1960- The Food and Drug Act approves birth control1960- The Food and Drug Act approves birth control 1961- Kennedy establishes President’s Commission 1961- Kennedy establishes President’s Commission on the Status of Womenon the Status of Women Betty Friedan publishes the Betty Friedan publishes the Feminine MystiqueFeminine Mystique 1963- Congress passes Equal Pay Act1963- Congress passes Equal Pay Act 1964- Title VII of Civil Rights Act passed (no 1964- Title VII of Civil Rights Act passed (no

discrimination with job opportunities regardless of sex, discrimination with job opportunities regardless of sex, religion, race or color) religion, race or color)

1965- 1965- Weeks v Southern BellWeeks v Southern Bell opens up jobs previously held by opens up jobs previously held by women women

Griswold v ConnecticutGriswold v Connecticut overturn state laws prohibiting the overturn state laws prohibiting the prescription use of contraceptives by married couples prescription use of contraceptives by married couples

1968- Executive Order 11246 prohibits sex discrimination by 1968- Executive Order 11246 prohibits sex discrimination by government contractors and requires affirmative action plansgovernment contractors and requires affirmative action plans for hiring womenfor hiring women The EEOC rules that sex segregated help wanted ads inThe EEOC rules that sex segregated help wanted ads in newspapers are illegalnewspapers are illegal 1969- California becomes first state to adopt “no fault “ divorce laws1969- California becomes first state to adopt “no fault “ divorce laws 1971- Ms. Magazine is published, 300,000 copies sold in 8 days1971- Ms. Magazine is published, 300,000 copies sold in 8 days The ERA amendment passes Congress and is sent to states for The ERA amendment passes Congress and is sent to states for ratification, which died in 1982ratification, which died in 1982 1972- Title IX bans discrimination in schools1972- Title IX bans discrimination in schools 1973- Supreme Court ruled in 1973- Supreme Court ruled in Roe v WadeRoe v Wade that a woman has the right to a safe that a woman has the right to a safe legal abortion legal abortion