Unit 10
SEMINAR
By:
Donn Mallari
Per.4
3/26/12
Prompt
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Compare and contrast the
goals and achievements of
the feminist movement in
the period circa 1850-1920
with those of the feminist
movement in the period
1945 to the present.
Background
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A significant transformation in the cold war era was
the emancipation of women in Europe and North
America.
Set sail for future success of a new generation of
feminist thinkers and women’s military movement
into the 1970’s-1980’s.
Before the industrial revolution women and men of
Europe usually married later and once they were
married, had plenty of children (3-7) as 1/3 of the
children made it to adulthood.
As the industrial revolution raged on, people married
earlier, death rates fell, and populations grew.
Background Cont.
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Healthy habits wore on into the 1950-1960’s, in the west
women bore families and married earlier.
Postwar baby boom made for larger families and rapid
population growth from 1 to1.5 percent.
1960-1970 population growth stopped.
Women were having there last babies by the age of 26-27.
Women had about 40 years of life after their children went off
to kindergarten.
Economic boom of 1950-1973 led for a strong demand of labor
and resources, which in turn led to women leaving the home for
a source of income. (Time after WWII)
Big revolution since beforehand industries and jobs were run by
men, and women's equality and emancipation prevailed.
The Second Sex
(1949)
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Written by French author and philosopher Simone de
Beauvoir (1908-1986).
Exposed to the real hard world as a young child.
Analyzed the position of women within the works of
existentialism.
Argued that women were always free, but trapped by
inflexible and limited conditions.
Self assertion and action was the only way to escape
the role of “inferiority” that men had created.
Inspired future generations of women intellectuals.
Feminist Movement
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The 1970’s were the birth place of a large feminist
movement, that demanded genuine sexual equality
and promoting general interests of women.
Three major reasons behind this:
1. Ongoing demands for rights on the behalf of
motherhood and work pay raised demands and
conditions.
2. Women vanguards who influenced many other
women to rethink the status quo and challenge it.
3. Following the civil rights movement, realized they
had to band together in order to achieve influence.
Feminist Movement
cont.
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Betty Friedan (1924-2006) opened
discussion of women’s issues in the United
States.
Believed in American group action to form
political solutions.
As a mother of a family, she was aware of
the conditions and pressures of family.
Wrote “The Feminine Mystique”, which
identified that the problem of women’s
rights was in identity.
Women faced a problem called “Sexism”
Feminist
Movement cont.
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1966 formed the National Organization of Woman
(NOW) to account for women’s rights.
In 1967 has 700 members, and in 1974 it had over
forty thousand members.
Many other women’s organization’s followed.
Wanted change in the laws for equality of women.
Concentrated on gender and family laws, such as
rights to divorce, legalized abortion, single mother
needs, and protection from violence/rape.
Led to revolutions in other groups such as
gay/lesbians, and people with disabilities.
Conclusion
1850-1920
Women did not participate in
labor.
Usually were wives/mothers
Watching their homes.
Had about 3-7 children
during her life time.
Large discrimination towards
women equality.
Men did not believe that
women could do well in the
work place.
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1945-Present
More genuine reform
movements for women’s
rights.
Promotion of general
women’s interests and
genuine equality.
Feminist speakers/activists
demanding for equality.
Establishment of the (NOW)
National Organization for
Women.
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Propaganda
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