Women’s Status in U.S. :Women’s Status in U.S. A Short Herstory


Some Early Ideas :Some Early Ideas Eve: Committed original sin by eating forbidden fruit Pandora: Opened the forbidden box and brought plagues and unhappiness to mankind. 4th Century Christian Church: “Woman is the gate of the devil, the path of wickedness, the sting of the serpent” Thomas Aquinas, 13th Century: “created to be man's helpmeet, but her unique role is in conception”


Madonna / Whore Dichotomy :Madonna / Whore Dichotomy Virginal Pure Motherly Nurturing Temptress Sensual Sexual Ready to please


Coming to America :Coming to America King of the Castle! British Common Law: “Rule of Thumb” Women became one with husband Not allowed to have property, money Not citizens Could not sue or be sued Were disciplined by husbands UNMARRIED WOMEN CAN!


Private Sphere / Public Sphere :Private Sphere / Public Sphere “A woman’s place is in the home.” No jobs requiring muscle or intellect Cooking Cleaning Making clothes Caregiving Education? For boys first, not worth it for girls Except if a family had money


Wanting More – 1800s :Wanting More – 1800s Wanted the right to vote, be seen as a citizen Came out of Abolitionist (anti-slavery) movement Black men granted right to vote 1870 Women worked for this, but didn’t benefit SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT Right to VOTE!


The Suffragists: 1869-1920 :The Suffragists: 1869-1920 ALICE PAUL: Picketing, hunger strike for 2 weeks


Finally! :Finally! 1920: The 19th Amendment gives women right to vote. Time for independence, new look for women


Next Steps :Next Steps EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION Access to jobs, pay No denying jobs to married women Better work conditions in mills Education Having credit, property Divorce Birth control


Access to Birth Control :Access to Birth Control Comstock Law (1873): Legislating public morality Stop obscene & immoral literature Includes info on birth control, abortion & STDs Margaret Sanger: Opened up 1st birth control clinic in 1916 Closed 10 days later & she was arrested 1930s – first pill was worked on; not legal until 1965


Limited Reproductive Choices :Limited Reproductive Choices 1780s - Earliest attempt: using a lemon rind as a cervical cap 1832 – various recipes (salt, vinegar, sulfite) 1839 – rubber “womb veils” 1880 – the diaphragm 1920 – the rhythm method introduced 1930 – Vatican says NO to birth control 1940s – experiments in search of a pill 1956 – Enovid, first pill submitted for approval in US 1960 – FDA approval, but still illegal in US


Women’s Early Jobs :Women’s Early Jobs Nursing Teaching Seamstress 14% of White women & 40% of Black women worked outside home (late 1800s-1920s) Married & working: 7% of White women; 32% of Black women Sign of weakness


Women in 1920-30s :Women in 1920-30s More women working during Depression Lots of women lured to work during WWII 18 million High paying, factory jobs Rosie the Riveter: Loyal, efficient, patriotic & pretty


Changing Attitudes :Changing Attitudes Men’s Attitudes about women began to shift Women liked being productive, well-paid Experienced strain of “Double Shift” – work & work at home


After World War II :After World War II Men came back home, Women went back into the home Development of first suburb: Levittown, NY 1951


The Problem with No Name :The Problem with No Name 1963: Betty Friedan writes controversial book Exposes depression, frustration in devalue of women, being housewives


More Options :More Options 1965: Griswold v. Connecticut Made it legal for married couples to take birth control 1972: Same right to unmarried women First pill makes $89 million in 5 years


Fight for Reproductive Options :Fight for Reproductive Options Until 1973, abortion remained illegal Roe v. Wade (1973): Right to privacy Unconstitutional to prohibit decisions over a woman’s body


Abortion Questions :Abortion Questions First trimester ok 2nd and 3rd trimester – state has right (“partial birth” abortion) Parental consent Spousal consent Her own written consent Amniocentesis Hospital choice Hospital records When is a baby viable? Quickening (can feel it) Trimesters New technology


Women’s Liberation :Women’s Liberation Grew out of Civil Rights Movement Jobs categorized by sex Civil Rights Act (1964): Bans employment discrimination based on sex or race Equal Pay Act (1963): Women make $.52 to $1.00 in 1960s Today, $.75 to $1.00


The Wage Gap :The Wage Gap


Safety & Violence :Safety & Violence Violence Against Women 1973: Nebraska first to make marital rape illegal Exposure of Domestic Violence & Rape First shelter in California


The Second Wave :The Second Wave Critique of women’s appearance & body image in media 1968 protest of Miss America pageant


Brands of Feminism :Brands of Feminism LIBERAL: Equal pay, jobs, reproduction choices, violence, beauty Worked from inside the system RADICAL: See patriarchy all over society Change institutions and society altogether Separatism from men


Sexual Revolution :Sexual Revolution More inclusion of LGBT people Stonewall Riots – 1969 Critique of sexuality, homophobia


1980s-90s :1980s-90s Feminist movement lost some steam Lots more advances: Violence Against Women Act (1994) Affirmative Action Work policies & family leave More women in politics Sex radicals


Women Today:The Thirdwave :Women Today:The Thirdwave Still fighting equality on different fronts Achieving it all & juggling Subtle sexism Rights for all women & men