1. Experiences in the workplace: By the 1960s, 40% of American women worked for wages. However, they were still shut out of certain jobs that were considered "men's work", and were instead stuck doing lower-paying "women's jobs" like clerical work, retail sails, nursing, teaching, social work, and domestic service. Until 1961, when Kennedy created the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. This committee reported 2 years later that women were being paid far less than men, often for the same jobs. Also, women were often passed over for promotions, even if they exceeded men in experience and ability.
2. Experiences in social activism: Even when participating in civil rights movements, women were discriminated against. Men led many of the civil rights organizations, and women were denied proper roles in them.
3. "Consciousness raising": This irony led to many smaller groups to be formed by women, in which their concerns about their treatment in society were discussed. In these "conscious raising" sessions, women banded together and discovered the overlying pattern of sexism that was running rampant in America at the time.
4. Feminism: Feminism was the founding theory behind the women's rights movement. It was the belief that women should have economic, social, and political equality with men.
5. Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique: Friedan's book, published in the late 50s or early 60s, called attention to a problem secretly sweeping the nation: millions of unsatisfied housewives, secretly wanting more out of life and not knowing how to get it. Friedan's book called attention to this issue, and soon, women began banding together to do something about it.
6. Civil Rights Act of 1964: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned discrimination based on religion, national origin, and gender, and formed the Equal Employment Opportunity Commision, which handled discrimination claims. Women were excited about this bill, because it dealt with gender, too, and the women's rights movement began picking up even more speed after the passage of this bill. However, the EEOC often did not deal fairly with women's rights issues, and women had to continue trying to find a way to get equality.
7. National Organization for Women (NOW): Created by 28 women, NOW was formed to "pursue women's goals". NOW petitioned for things such as adequate child care facilities so that mothers could join the workforce and become educated. They pressured EEOC to more fairly deal with the gender portion of the Civil Rights Act of '64; this resulted in EEOC declaring it illegal to create jobs for only one sec, and in the creation of guidelines that made it impossible for businesses to refuse to hire women for "men's jobs".
8. Gloria Steinem and Ms. Magazine: Steinem, an ardent feminist, was a very vocal fighter for women's equality. She helped to found the National Women's Political Caucus, which helped women run for political office. In 1972, she helped to create Ms. magazine, which gave the feminist perspective on everyday issues. The women's rights movement was pushing itself in the public eye more so than ever.
9. Congress: In 1972, Congress passed a bill that banned gender discrimination in "any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance". This resulted in many previously all-boys colleges beginning to accept women. Also, the powers of the EEOC were expanded, and working parents were given a tax-break which went to child care expenses, just as the feminists had been pushing for.
10. Supreme Court: The most famous women's rights Supreme Court case was Roe v. Wade. This case debated whether or not women have the right to have an abortion. The SC ruled that women do have the right to an abortion, but only during the first trimester. Some feminists were pacified, while others continued to fight the issue, thinking the ruling too weak.
11. The Equal rights Amendment would have guaranteed equal rights under the law, regardless of gender. Who opposed this amendment? Why?
Many conservative religious groups and prominent conservative figures, such as Phyllis Schlaffy, worried that this bill would lead to such things as the drafting of women into the army, the end of husband's feeling the need to provide for their family, same-sex marriage, and no more laws protecting housewives. Many anti-feminists, who thought the the women's rights movement was simply full of men and marriage haters, also opposed this amendment.
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