Feminist Approach : Gender Roles Of The 1960 's And 1970 ' S

Gender defined roles are continuously adapting to the new societal norms of the era. There is a surplus of historical events that have reimagined the traditional expectations of a man or women.

During, the 1960s and 70s American Feminist Movement, women had begun to protest for the same human rights as men. The main areas of protest in The United States of America were Boston, Los Angeles, and New York City. There were many ways to protest, including writing, art, and organizations. There were many writers who wrote about feminism during this time, some include Betty Friedan, Robin Morgan, and Kate Millett. Art also encouraged feminism, specifically the paintings by Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro. There were many feminist groups that protested for equal rights, some of which were The National Black Feminist Organization, The National Organization For Women, Bread and Roses, and The Chicago Women's Liberation Union. In the 1960s and 70s,

The sixties was an evolutionary era with a new variety of movies, tv shows and books. The 60’s revolutionised the way that people thought about movies and television and has inspired our favourite shows and movies today.

How often do you hear your friends, family or acquaintances say they would like to go back to simpler times, the 1950’s? The era where you could wear fancy poodle skirts, drive the elaborate bright cars, eat at your favorite diner, or catch a movie at the drive in. That sounds pleasant, right? The United States has a tendency to think of the lovely aspects that come from the 1950’s. Unfortunately during this era women were treated unfairly. Women obtained rights, but were still not equal to men. Femininity has come a long way since then. Women work “masculine jobs” today. In the 1950’s, job employers would have turned the female away. Although femininity has seen drastic changes throughout the past decades, society still grasps feminine roots that should have been lost long ago. During the course of this essay you will see how femininity has changed and how it has not since the 1950’s. Whether it be in the workplace, at home, or in society, women have roles to play.

The entire Women’s Movement in the United States has been quite extensive. It can be traced back to 1848, when the first women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. After two days of discussions, 100 men and women signed the Declaration of Sentiments. Drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, this document called for equal treatment of women and men under the law and voting rights for women. This gathering set the agenda for the rest of the Women’s Movement long ago (Imbornoni). Over the next 100 years, many women played a part in supporting equal treatment for women, most notably leading to the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which allowed women the right to vote.

Early feminism was typically focused only on white women, likely because racism was still extremely prominent at the time feminism began emerging. It was not until Kimberlé Crenshaw introduced the term “intersectionality” in 1989 that feminism started to look at oppressed group’s needs (Nash, 2008, 2). Intersectionality is a way of thinking that acknowledges that when a person has identities that belong to more than one oppressed group, it impacts their quality of life more negatively. In this paper, I will argue that intersectionality is important in the discussion of feminist theories and activism because it ensures that feminism is for all women, not just a select group of them. Intersectionality has changed the way the feminist movement handles the overlapping of different identities, which has helped feminist theorists understand the experiences of women of colour much more clearly. While intersectionality has a very important role in the conversation and practice of feminism, there are certainly critiques of the concept that should be brought up. These critiques, however, can offer a way to improve the study of intersectionality.

Underlying the feminism movement of the 1960s and 1970s was the “white racist ideology.” The women’s movement of the 1960s was in fact the white women’s movement. It was an opportunity for white feminists to raise their voices, but they only spoke about the plight of the white woman and excluded themselves from the collective group of women across all races and social standings. White women assumed that their experience was the experience of all women. When black women proclaimed that the movement was focused on the oppression of white women, the white feminists asserted “common oppression” and retorted with “oppression cannot be measured.” Ironically, feminists in the 1960s compared their oppression to the oppression of African Americans as

It was not that long ago where women in the 1950s were held by certain standards. The sad part is that much hasn’t changed today. Many women today work outside the home (a single household income is not enough support) and are still expected to maintain the “housewife” image. Child bearing, cleaning, and cooking are still considered a woman’s job.

The feminist movement of the 1960’s focused solely on the improvement and well- being of women. The idea of Feminism is a critical theory as it is an analytical examination of social conditions and what tools could be utilized to proactively improve these conditions. Overcoming the consistent barriers women had to endure during this era remains prevalent and continues to have psychological effects. In order to strengthen one’s mindset regarding feminism, we must first refer back and understand the intellectual history of the women’s movement and examine areas of how counseling can assist with overcoming these impediments. The Feminist philosophy is the philosophical dimension of intellectual feminism. Many philosophers understand their intellectual history and the history of the women's movement in terms of three "waves."

In Jamaica Kincaid’s story, Girl, a mother is talking to her daughter about all the proper things she must do to be considered a good girl to her family and to the public, and when she grows up, a proper lady. She must follow the rules that are given to her by her own mother and by society. The mother also teaches the daughter how to act when things don’t go her way. She is told that along with being a proper lady, she must also be able to get what she wants and be independent. This story was written in the late 1970’s and gender roles, for women, back then were not being “followed” because women wanted equal opportunities (Women In the Workforce). “Gender stereotypes are beliefs regarding the traits and behavioral characteristics given to individuals on the basis of their gender” (Deuhr). This essay will discuss the gender roles that were given to women in the story, during the late 70’s, and in today’s society.

During the period after World War II, there was a shift in the role of women from the private sphere to the public sphere. Namely, at the turn of the 1960s, the concept of the nuclear family was becoming less of the norm as many women began to fight more and more for their rights and the way in which they were to be portrayed. For many years, women have been made to believe that they must follow certain expectations such to fit into the “American ideal” of what the role of a woman should be. For example, according to the Redstockings, contests like Miss America perpetuate the idea that women must be “inoffensive, bland, [and] apolitical” and that “conformity is the key…to success in our society.” The sentiment expressed in the quotation,

Our streets are plagued with billboards promoting health and more often than not are showcasing men or make the men look fitter. Healthier and stronger than women. However I find this advertising displeasing and offensive. Health promotion should illustrate equality in order to promote healthy living and exercise for genders and motivate

Gender roles became so complex in the twentieth century due how society has changed what men and women should be like. Men take being strong and independent as a God given right to them, while females on the other hand have had to work their way up in order to be titled independently strong. From growing up to early adulthood I faced the conflict of constantly worrying about how society wants me shape myself as a dependent and self-confident which was the complete opposite of me.

During the 1970's-1960's women definitely made progress. The social norm for women increased dramatically. Women stayed determined for getting their rights until they got what they deserved. Women proved men wrong on many occasions. They weren't 'weak and frail' and they didn't only belong in their own homes. They could do most, if not everything, a man could do. Nowadays, women are equal to men in most ways. There are still feminists who fight for things like equal wages, but women's rights and social norms have definitely improved even if they are not perfect.

By 1970 America was restless with social, economic, and political change. The Feminine Mystique had been released for eight years and had begun to strike a chord with the unsatisfied housewives of America. Women were realizing that they were not the only ones who were unsatisfied, and that their credentials and degrees were going to waste. More women were beginning to enter their selves in the public sphere. By the 1970s many women were able to express themselves in a productive, sexual, and creative manner.