Feminist Movement In The 1960's

When looking into the 1950’s and 1960’s, it is important to look at the many struggles going on back then in order to truly differentiate between the two decades. These two decades experienced many different challenges both socially and politically. In fact, many people have portrayed the 1950s as the decade of prosperity, conformity, and consensus. While others have portrayed the 1960s as a decade of turbulence, protest, and disillusionment. In order to truly differentiate between both the 1950s and 1960s, we must consider the war, civil rights, and social changes.

The women’s liberation movement (or feminism as it is now known) of the 1960s and 1970s touched every home, business, and school (WA, 705). The movement even touched the sports and entertainment industries, in fact, “There are few areas of contemporary life untouched by feminism” (WA, 717). The word feminism in the early 1960’s wasn’t often used and when it was it was used with condescension or hatred. However, in the late sixties that changed thanks to a new group of women. This new diverse group of women included the: young, old, heterosexual, lesbians, working class, and even the privileged. This diverse group came together and collectively created the second wave of feminism.

Underlying the feminism movement of the 1960s and 1970s was the “white racist ideology.” The women’s movement of the 1960s was in fact the white women’s movement. It was an opportunity for white feminists to raise their voices, but they only spoke about the plight of the white woman and excluded themselves from the collective group of women across all races and social standings. White women assumed that their experience was the experience of all women. When black women proclaimed that the movement was focused on the oppression of white women, the white feminists asserted “common oppression” and retorted with “oppression cannot be measured.” Ironically, feminists in the 1960s compared their oppression to the oppression of African Americans as

The 1960s in America brought a host of movements that pushed for equality, power, and change. Each movement helped to shape and effect the other

America during the 1960s was a time of War, protests, riots and ultimately change. Groups of revolting people from African Americans to Women who wanted more rights sparked change and protest and put the American Government under pressure. With the government being under pressure the American democracy was altered and redefined by determined ethnic and other groups.

Lingering inequalities and other social trends from previous decades brought forth the modern feminist movement in the 1960s. These feminists campaigned for gender equality with causes such as equal pay for equal work, abortion rights, and social parity. In 1963, author Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique, which contained reports from a study conducted on female college graduates during the 1950s and early 1960s, which uncovered that most women labelled themselves exclusively as mothers and housewives, and were unsatisfied with the roles forced upon them. Friedan argued fervently that women needed to discover their own identities outside the roles of a wife and mother. Many believe that the arguments made in The Feminine Mystique marked the start of the modern feminist movement (Loveday, 1)

    The feminism movement throughout the 1900’s showed much progression to equality in western society. It was this pivotal century that set the ball rolling for important women’s rights, including women’s suffrage in 1920, John F. Kennedy passing the Equal Pay Act in 1963, and even sparked revolutionary women such as Amelia Earhart, one of the first female pilots. But like all new changes there was room for improvement. This is where great speakers such as journalist Gloria Steinem stepped in. On May 6, 1970, Steinem spoke before Congress on the equal rights amendment as a supporter for female equality. She goes on to describe that still into the 1970’s that women were being socially discriminated

The 1960s was a decade of Civil Rights Movements, including the Feminist Movement which still affects modern day life. The economic stability post WWII allowed for more attention to be focused on Civil Rights. Because of the financial stability, there was more time to think about the future and for exploring the lack of equal rights among different groups. During World War II, women were trained to do jobs traditionally held by men because the men were at war. Rosie the Riveter was an important figure during the war encouraging women to join the work force and do "men 's work." After the war, women were expected to return to homes and continue to be housewives even though many would have liked to have kept their war time jobs. This is when Rosie 's propaganda was taken down and the government closed many of the daycare centers that supported working mothers. Women felt it was unfair that they had to return to being a housewife when the men came back from the war. The Feminist movement blossomed soon after and women united to fight for gender equality.

In the 1960’s women were limited in most respects particularly concerning their professional lives. Women were expected to marry and devote their lives to homemaking. If they did work they were limited in their career choices and expected to perform jobs typically considered traditional female jobs such as teachers or nurses. If they did pursue conventionally male-dominated careers like doctors or lawyers they were discouraged. They were paid less than men and denied the same professional opportunities that men were given. They were also the legally subject to their husbands and obtaining a divorce was very difficult.

The unconventional portrayal of women through Angie’s character correlates to the changes in women’s perspectives and social roles in the 1960s. The feminist movement was among the many social movements of the 1960s, including the civil rights movement and the antiwar movement. The “second wave of feminism” led to women questioning their social inequality and to women exploring their sexuality to a greater degree (Klatch), and Angie’s character denotes the film’s feminist influences. When Angie awaits Rocky’s arrival to dinner at her apartment, she intently dresses provocatively and reveals more of her chest than she usually does to reignite a sexual relationship with Rocky. Her strategy works, and she impresses Rocky, who chauvinistically

Gender movements of 1960 encompassed more than the rights of women. The most common phrase that was used at that time was "personal is political". This phrase was widely used by social movements of that time including the Women Liberation Movement. The input of women in social movements like Civil Rights Movement, the movement against the War in Vietnam, and myriad student movements was enormous despite the fact that they were not trusted with leadership positions. At formative stages, these movements called for more student rights and decision making power in college. They also agitated for end of Vietnam War, a war that was unpopular with many Americans. They also wanted the black population to be allowed to vote. These movements other than being thought of as fighting for personal issues also fought for political emancipation as they also clamored for social justice in the society (Mandle, n.d.).

Feminism can be defined as the theory of the economic, political, and social equality of the sexes. The Women’s Liberation Movement, also known as the feminist movement has been a conflict for nearly one hundred years. The women had history of long proposals. Women were arranged for marriage by their early twenties and were expected to submit to their husbands. Their jobs were to raise the children and do chores.

During this decade, the Civil Rights movement continued to gain momentum. The black community was continually persecuted and discriminated against by prejudice white individuals and figures of authority. Blacks everywhere struggled to end discrimination. They demanded the right to vote, to receive quality education, and to become respected individuals in the community which shunned them. (Sitkoff 35) Students, in particular, played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960's. Many college students were outraged by

For the most part, it is the movement for social, political, and economic equality for all people, both for men and women (Feminist.com)

The women liberation movement of the 1960 helped all these changes to come about through it scores of policies and radical ways of thinking. During that time some women made a freedom trash can and sign , also they fill in some trap in their house. Women threw some objects like heels , bras ,griddles hair curler and anything that they could get there hand on. So basically the movement made the significant changes for all women in regards to basic right like in home and their workplace for the better. Since denied basic right women from the united states fought vigorously for equality. Most women fought for their rights not symbolize like beauty objects or sex object. While women realize that they worth more then just there looks. Also they took measures to overcome