Women’s Rights 11.11.3, 11.10.7 EQ: What led to the rise of the women’s movement, and what impact did it have on American society? Women’s Rights • Feminism • political equality for men and women • 1840s – 1920 suffrage • “glass ceiling” blocked women’s achievement • 1920s – 1970s ERA • breaking down stereotypes of gender in society • mail carrier instead of mailman • study herstory instead of history Feminine Mystique, 1963 • women sought more in life than being a housewife • happiness outside marriage and motherhood • career, hobbies • started the women’s rights movement • Betty Friedan National Organization for Women (NOW) • formed to use politics to get equality • focuses on women’s issues today • domestic abuse, abortion rights Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), 1972 • tried to change the Constitution to make men and women equal • it had a 7-year deadline and needed 38 states to ratify • 35 states ratified, 5 tried to take their ratification back • 21 states have ERA language in their state constitutions Gloria Steinem • radical feminist who thought NOW didn’t go far enough • started Ms. Magazine in 1972 • invented Ms. so women’s names weren’t dependent on marriage (Miss vs. Mrs.) • banned Miss America pageant Phyllis Schlafly • argued that ERA would hurt families • military service, sexsegregated bathrooms, dependent wife benefits • conservative backlash against ERA made it fail by three states Title IX • Title VII of Civil Rights Act, 1964 bans discrimination by gender • Title IX of Higher Education Act bans discrimination in classroom and activities Roe v. Wade, 1973 • most states banned or restricted abortion • the Supreme Court created one national standard • in 1st trimester, abortion is legal • in later trimesters states may make restrictions • waiting period, parental consent, ban of certain types of abortion • all states must allow abortion if the life of the mother is threatened Compare/Contrast the level of support by each woman. List examples WHY. Gloria Steinem Phyllis Sclafley NOW ERA ROE V. WADE Women’s Rights • Has the women’s rights movement been successful? • 30% of workforce in 1950 • 60% of workforce in 2000 • new careers have opened up in medicine, law, politics, and accounting • however, the majority of the poor are single women • ERA failed • Roe v. Wade passed EQ #7: • What led to the rise of the women’s movement, and what impact did it have on American society?