The Feminist Movement: The Politics Of Protest

In her report, Veronica Loveday writes about Women’s Rights Movement, during World War two, and many restrictions women faced. Women’s rights movement in the U.S. begun in the 1960s as a reaction to the decades of unfair social and civil inequities faced by women. Over the next thirty years, feminists campaigned for equality, such as equal pay, equal work , and abortion rights. Women finally gained the right to vote with the passage of the 19th amendment to the constitution in 1920.

During the 1960s women were confined to one lifestyle, they were not acceptable in the public eye and were limited in their family lifestyle as well as the workplace. Women were expected to marry the traditional young marriage and then devote their time to raise the family and take care of their husband. Due to restriction women became activist and voiced their opinion to become equal in the workplace.

Women’s rights have evolved over time; beginning with being homemakers and evolving to obtaining professions, acquiring an education, and gaining the right to vote. The movement that created all these revolutionary changes was called the feminist movement. The feminist movement occurred in the twentieth century. Many people are not aware of the purpose of the feminist movement. The movement was political and social and it sought to set up equality for women. Women’s groups in the United States worked together to win women’s suffrage and later to create and support the Equal Rights Amendment. The economic boom between 1917 and the early 1960s brought many American women into the workplace. As women began to join

Fredrick Douglas once said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” During the 1960’s in America, there were major movements the promoted change throughout the country. The Civil Rights movement, which got its start in the 1950’s, strived for racial equality for African Americans. Meanwhile, the Women’s Rights Movement, focused on battling for better pay and equal opportunities for women. While the Civil Rights Movement and the Women’s Liberation Movement differed in their initial purposes, both groups worked to promote equality in the United States and made a profound impression for the decades to come.

In the 1970 feminist were fighting for education also. Title 9 was the first step for change. They needed enforcement with it, just like the Brown vs. Board of Education. Sexism was ingrained in our society like racism. In the upper grades girls were discourages from higher level classes just like one of the Mexican American students also went

Betty Friedan believed that women should feel and be treated equal to men. Friedan fought for women to embody their power and worth. She was an activist for the women’s rights movement and a founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Her book, The Feminine Mystique, connected with her readers by illustrating the standards that women were put under for decades. In the 60’s, women were viewed as nothing but maids and child-bearers. Many women were hesitant to take a stand for this taboo subject; their own rights. Friedan took initiative when everyone else was afraid to. Betty Friedan’s contribution clearly advanced the progression of women’s equality. She accomplished this by writing her famous book, giving a debatable speech, and founding the National Organization for Women.

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.

Feminists at this time had a feeling of empowerment with a selfish attitude putting their needs over everything else. In Document A Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique is a strong example of this. It states “ once she begins to see through the delusions of the feminine mystique and realizes her husband nor her children, nor the things in her house, nor sex, nor being like all the other women, can give her a self-she often finds the solution much easier than she anticipated.” Feminists believed their roles as wives and mothers were not enough and “unfulfilling” and they deserved more. This idea also threatened American democracy and put pressure on the American Government. In Document F the percentage of Women’s jobs are shown, “75% of Women are in routine clerical, sales, or factory jobs or they are household workers, cleaning women” and also “There is no civil rights movement to speak for Women, as there has been for Negroes and other victims of discrimination, The National Organization for Women must therefore begin to speak.” Feminists believed they needed to put pressure on the Government like the African Americans did to get what they

As you know many things have changed since the 1960s and 1970s. For instance, women’s rights. Women rights have come a long way in education, work, family life, politics, and sports. But I am writing to remind you the importance in women’s work force. Women have always in a general manner…been under appreciated. It seemed however that sometimes needs made men realize or potential. You see during world war 2, nearly all women worked…this was directly related to the fact that men where away at war. Women worked both hard labor, and intelligent jobs. After they returned; women gave up their jobs and let men take over. Most women enjoyed the thought of a house life, but I don’t think most knew exactly what they were getting themselves into. Women

One of the most influential movements in history was the Civil Rights Movement. During the Civil Rights Movement history changed for the fight for equal rights, it created a path for future reforms and a hope for a better future. The Civil Rights lasted for many years and it helped have other reforms take place. It helped shape the future of the law and it created a huge controversy that led to freedom. Although it took many years, it changed the life of many and left a legacy that will never be forgotten.

National Organization of Women was created in 1966. By October 300 women and men had become charter members. Officials were elected, Kathryn Clarenbach as The Chair of Board, Betty Friedan as the President, Aileen Hernandez, who had announced her resignation from the EEOC. Betty strongly believed in the rights of women. After founding the NOW she ended up stepping down from the presidency position because of fighting issues among other members. Still believing that women didn't have to follow the regular expectations of the government or the others. This quote from Betty Friedan gives an idea on how the NOW was somewhat based off of before problems between the women and men.” The feminist revolution had to be fought because women quite simply were stopped at a state of evolution far short of their human capacity. The feminist revolution had to be fought because women quite simply were stopped at a state of evolution far short of their human capacity. “gives an example on how thinking and what went through Betty head. Saying this quote describes how the NOW reacted and how Betty personally thought and maybe fought a little bit harder than others. Closing how the NOW was created Betty did play a large role, including how many people Betty tried to help with the new problems but people could not agree with Betty so they were usually always

The women’s rights movement was a huge turning point for women because they had succeeded in the altering of their status as a group and changing their lives of countless men and women. Gender, Ideology, and Historical Change: Explaining the Women’s Movement was a great chapter because it explained and analyzed the change and causes of the women’s movement. Elaine Tyler May’s essay, Cold War Ideology and the Rise of Feminism and Women’s Liberation and Sixties Radicalism by Alice Echols both gave important but different opinions and ideas about the women’s movement. Also, the primary sources reflect a number of economic, cultural, political, and demographic influences on the women’s movement. This chapter

Could you imagine what life would be like without the rights women have today? Betty Friedan was a wife, a mother, and she had a career at a labors union service editing newspapers. She was also an activist who fought for women’s rights. Her determination for women’s rights began in 1953 and lasted for almost 20 years; Mrs. Friedan never forgot the reason she was fighting, which was fighting for women’s equality in the work force (American History, 1)

In 1920, women won the right to vote and they were gradually moving into the male-dominated labor force, but gender roles were not changing much. Due to the World War II draft, many women entered the labor force and even helped run the country. Upon the return of the veterans, many women were forced back into their homes. However, the opportunities for women were broadening and some women began making careers for themselves outside of the home. The 1960’s saw many feminist movements and in 1963 the Equal Pay Act was passed by Congress which enticed more women to get out of the house and into better careers.

Late 1906s and early 70s was the next wave in the feminist movement. Taking social views and gender roles head on. The role of women was being redefined within America. After en forcing women to be domestic, the stigma of a woman in the workplace was being pushed. During the 1960s, women were determined to seek equal opportunities, in pay and work within society. Women began to speak out and be respected as they challenged traditions. Finally in the 1980s, the biggest battles were won. Women were accepted into colleges and in the workplace, all of which were reflected in media.