Women’s Liberation Women’s Liberation MovementMovement

What were they fighting for?What were they fighting for? Women wanted equal rights to men legally, Women wanted equal rights to men legally,

socially, and economically.socially, and economically. Though women were allowed to work, they Though women were allowed to work, they

were getting paid meager amounts were getting paid meager amounts compared to men and were restricted in compared to men and were restricted in their available career paths.their available career paths.

Prior to the 1960s, young single women Prior to the 1960s, young single women were expected to get married, have were expected to get married, have children, and take care of their families.children, and take care of their families.

The movement focused on changing the idea The movement focused on changing the idea that women could only be mothers – women that women could only be mothers – women could and should be anything they wanted to could and should be anything they wanted to be, just like men had the right to.be, just like men had the right to.

The civil rights movement coincided with the The civil rights movement coincided with the women’s movement. African – American women’s movement. African – American women were an especially ignored faction of women were an especially ignored faction of society.society.

TimelineTimeline

1960: The Food and Drug Administration 1960: The Food and Drug Administration approves birth control pills. approves birth control pills.

1963: Betty Friedan releases 1963: Betty Friedan releases The Feminine The Feminine Mystique Mystique laying the ground work for the laying the ground work for the feminist movement, the same year as the feminist movement, the same year as the March to Washington. March to Washington.

Betty FriedanBetty Friedan Author of Author of The Feminine The Feminine

Mystique Mystique and co – founder of and co – founder of the National Organization for the National Organization for Women (NOW)Women (NOW)

She was a staunch supporter She was a staunch supporter of abortion laws and a of abortion laws and a supporter of the Equal Rights supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment to the Amendment to the Constitution Constitution

After her death, many After her death, many sources claimed she was sources claimed she was infamously abrasive in her infamously abrasive in her popular obituary in the popular obituary in the NY NY TimesTimes

The Feminine MystiqueThe Feminine MystiqueExcerpt from the text on “The Problem That Has No Excerpt from the text on “The Problem That Has No

Name”:Name”:

"The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years "The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning [that stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning [that is, a longing] that women suffered in the middle of is, a longing] that women suffered in the middle of the 20th century in the United States. Each the 20th century in the United States. Each suburban wife struggled with it alone. As she made suburban wife struggled with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries … she was afraid the beds, shopped for groceries … she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question — 'Is this to ask even of herself the silent question — 'Is this all?’’all?’’

Gloria Steinem Gloria Steinem One of the most famous One of the most famous

second - wave feminists of second - wave feminists of her time, credited for her time, credited for gaining awareness of the gaining awareness of the rights issuerights issue

Journalist and activist for Journalist and activist for The New York The New York magazine in magazine in the 1960s the 1960s

Fought for Equal Rights Fought for Equal Rights Amendment to the Amendment to the Constitution alongside Constitution alongside Friedan as well as avidly Friedan as well as avidly supporting same – sex supporting same – sex marriage marriage

Quotes by SteinemQuotes by Steinem““I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to

combine marriage and a career.”combine marriage and a career.”

““No man can call himself liberal, or radical, or even No man can call himself liberal, or radical, or even a conservative advocate of fair play, if his work a conservative advocate of fair play, if his work depends in any way on the unpaid or underpaid depends in any way on the unpaid or underpaid labor of women at home, or in the office.”labor of women at home, or in the office.”

““We've begun to raise daughters more like sons... We've begun to raise daughters more like sons... but few have the courage to raise our sons more but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters.”like our daughters.”

1966: Twenty – eight women found the 1966: Twenty – eight women found the National Organization for Women, including National Organization for Women, including author Betty Friedan. author Betty Friedan.

1968: First public speak-out against abortion 1968: First public speak-out against abortion laws are held in New York. The same year laws are held in New York. The same year women protest the Miss America Beauty women protest the Miss America Beauty Pageant in Atlantic City. Pageant in Atlantic City.

1969: Redstockings, a radial feminist group, is 1969: Redstockings, a radial feminist group, is organized. organized.

1970: President Richard Nixon vetoes the 1970: President Richard Nixon vetoes the Comprehensive Child Development Act, Comprehensive Child Development Act, which would have established federally which would have established federally funded childcare centers.funded childcare centers.

1973: The Supreme Court strikes down many 1973: The Supreme Court strikes down many state abortion laws in the case Roe v. Wade. state abortion laws in the case Roe v. Wade.

Now?Now?

Think…Think… Can men be feminists also or is the Can men be feminists also or is the

movement limited to women only?movement limited to women only?

Does the term “feminist” still apply today?Does the term “feminist” still apply today?

In some ways, the women’s liberation In some ways, the women’s liberation movement has not ended. Why can this be movement has not ended. Why can this be considered so?considered so?

“The Women’s Liberation Movement and Public Schools”(Discover Magazine online)

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/04/07/the-womens-liberation-movement-and-public-schools/