Pizza Rolls Not Gender Roles
The Women's Liberation Movement
Expectations of Women in 1950's
- Marry in early 20's
- Start family quickly
- Care for the home
- No legal right to husband's earnings or property
Feminism
The theory of political, social, and economic equality of all genders.
Workplace Inequality
- Job opportunities for women usually limited to teacher, nurse, or secretary
- Did not receive equal pay
- Inequal job opportunities
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- Made to investigate discrimination complaints based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and disability
- Established July 2, 1965
- Ignored sex discrimination complaints
- Somewhat a failure for women's liberation
National Organization for Women (NOW)
- Feminist organization
- Founded in 1966
- Formed out of anger from Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- One of the first women's organizations to include concerns of black women in their efforts
- Main leaders included Betty Friedan and Pauli Murray
- Battled workplace discrimination in courts
Betty Friedan
- Author of The Feminine Mystique (1962), a book that inspired housewives who felt unfulfilled
- Major leader of feminist movement
- One of the founders of NOW
Gloria Steinem
- Journalist that wrote influential women's liberation stories
- Founder of Ms. Magazine (1971)
- Very pro-choice
Roe vs. Wade
- 1973
- Made abortion legal in the United States
- A woman and her doctor could choose abortion in earlier months of pregnancy
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
- "Equality of rights under the law shall not be abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
- First proposed in Congress by the National Women's Party in 192, written by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman
- Feminists of 1960's saw the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment as a necessity
- ERA supporters were met by the STOP-ERA supporters who believed in traditional family roles
- ERA was never ratified
Phyllis Schafly
- Leader of the STOP-ERA campaign
- Believed in traditional gender roles for women, despite having a law degree herself
- Argued the ERA would bring many undesirable changes to American women
The whole purpose of feminism is for men and women to make their own choices. This includes being a lawyer, or being a housewife. Either career is perfectly fine, as long as each individual chooses it for themselves.