Feminism
Feminism was a collection of movements that interacted with many major political movements, one being the counterculture movement during the 1960s. Feminism in its early stages began in the late 19th and early 20th century, naming it the first wave of feminism. The second wave of feminism began in the 1960s, which was during the time of the counterculture movement. Feminism involved establishing and defending equal political, economic, and social rights for women.
During the Vietnam War, many women who were active in the anti- war movements were “subsumed into a paradigm that suggests that, sometime in the late 1960s, women activists left the antiwar struggle for the new feminist cause…whose diverse constituent groups shared the idea of liberation from male authority.”[1] The variety of personal, organizational, and theoretical lessons learned from the anti- war movements profoundly influenced the visions and motivations of women to free themselves from the gender norms of society. “Feminists often thought of themselves as revolutionaries rejecting a fundamentally unequal and corrupt power establishment in favor of participatory democracy whereby all the voiceless and suppressed could gain a measure of control over their own lives.” Male dominance being an evident part of society during the 1960s, feminism showed the women’s way of diverting from the “normal” labels of men and women.
American women were limited in almost every aspect of their lives in opposition to men. They were expected to marry early and make a family, devoting their lives to homemaking. As wives, women would spend an average of about 55 hours per week on domestic chores. Men had full advantage over the marriage while women had no rights. Women were fully subject to their husbands by a system called “head and master laws,” where women had no legal rights to any of the husband’s earnings. The 38 percent of American women who worked in 1960 were largely limited to jobs as teacher, nurse, or secretary. The main objective that women had during the counterculture movement was to establish equality in the workplace. Working women were also paid much lower salaries than men and were denied opportunities to advance in their workplaces. With the leadership of a woman named Martha Griffiths, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was established. However, it became quickly evident that this Commission was not helping much in enforcing the law’s protection of women workers. So, in a summer of 1966, a group of feminists, including Betty Friedman, found an organization named the National Organization for Women(NOW), “which went on to lobby Congress for pro-equality laws and assist women seeking legal aid as they battled workplace discrimination in the courts.” These radical women sought to construct community institutions based on democratic participation during the counterculture. Not only did Betty Friedman influence women to dismantle the prevailing system, she also moved women to participate on a public and political level.[5] A variety of other issues including reproductive and sexuality rights these women faced brought about a series of marches and protests where women publicized the need for radical change from gender discrimination.
The second wave of feminism which began during the counterculture movement continued on until the 1990s, encouraging women to believe that political issues were their personal issues as well.[6] Betty Friedan, a leading figure during the feminist movement, published a book named “The Feminine Mystique.” In this book, she captured the frustration and despair that college educated housewives feel. Friedan shocked the nation as she contradicted the accepted wisdom of women being content in the work at home. Overall, the feminist movement influenced American society by encouraging women to challenge the gender norms of society and unite to fight for their independent rights for women.
[1] Barbara L. Tischler, “Antiwar Activism and Emerging Feminism in the Late 1960s: The Times They Were A'Changing” last modified: April 2001, accessed: 13 December 2013, http://www.solidarity-us.org/site/node/1681
[2]“The 1960s-70s American Feminist Movement: Breaking Down Barriers for Women,” last modified: October 2006, accessed: 13 December 2013, http://tavaana.org/en/content/1960s-70s-american-feminist-movement-breaking-down-barriers-women.
[3] “The Three Waves of Feminism,” last modified: March 2008, accessed: 13 December 2013, http://www.pacificu.edu/magazine_archives/2008/fall/echoes/feminism.cfm.
[4] Bettman Corbis. “1966: National Organization for Women,” Last accessed: 13 December 2013. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/multimedia/photos/16179437.html?c=y&page=7
[5] J.P Laffont. “Betty Friedan, Who Ignited Cause in 'Feminine Mystique,' Dies at 85,” Last modified: 5 February 2006, accessed: 13 December 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/national/05friedan.html?pagewanted=all
[6] Jessica Hong. “The Feminine Mystique at 50,” last modified: 30 September 2012, accessed: 13 December 2013, http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/09/30/the-feminine-mystique-at-50/
[2]“The 1960s-70s American Feminist Movement: Breaking Down Barriers for Women,” last modified: October 2006, accessed: 13 December 2013, http://tavaana.org/en/content/1960s-70s-american-feminist-movement-breaking-down-barriers-women.
[3] “The Three Waves of Feminism,” last modified: March 2008, accessed: 13 December 2013, http://www.pacificu.edu/magazine_archives/2008/fall/echoes/feminism.cfm.
[4] Bettman Corbis. “1966: National Organization for Women,” Last accessed: 13 December 2013. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/multimedia/photos/16179437.html?c=y&page=7
[5] J.P Laffont. “Betty Friedan, Who Ignited Cause in 'Feminine Mystique,' Dies at 85,” Last modified: 5 February 2006, accessed: 13 December 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/national/05friedan.html?pagewanted=all
[6] Jessica Hong. “The Feminine Mystique at 50,” last modified: 30 September 2012, accessed: 13 December 2013, http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/09/30/the-feminine-mystique-at-50/
Pictures
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[9]g Back at a Domestic Cri de Coeur." The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/books/betty-friedans-feminine-mystique-50-years-later.html (accessed December 16,
[10]"THE 1960S-70S AMERICAN FEMINIST MOVEMENT: BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR WOMEN." Tavaana. http://tavaana.org/en/content/1960s-70s-american-feminist-movement-breaking-down-barriers-women (accessed December 15, 2013).
[11]"Feminist.com." Feminist.com. http://www.feminist.com/ (accessed December 15, 2013).
[8]"Black Feminists." Black Feminists Site Wide Activity RSS. http://www.blackfeminists.org/ (accessed December 15, 2013).
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[10]"THE 1960S-70S AMERICAN FEMINIST MOVEMENT: BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR WOMEN." Tavaana. http://tavaana.org/en/content/1960s-70s-american-feminist-movement-breaking-down-barriers-women (accessed December 15, 2013).
[11]"Feminist.com." Feminist.com. http://www.feminist.com/ (accessed December 15, 2013).