1945 - 1969 Flashcards
(17 cards)
How politically active were women in the post-war period?
- women remained politically underrepresented
- by 1950 there were 8 women in the house and non in the senate
- In 1948, women made up about 50% of the electorate, but political parties largely ignored women’s specific issues.
When was Esther Peterson’s appointment and why was it significant?
- 1961
- Peterson was appointed as Assistant Secretary of Labour and Director of the Women’s Bureau
- Helped drive policy changes and gave women a stronger federal voice
When was the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women and what did it recommend
- 1963
- Led by Eleanor Roosevelt and it called for: Equal pay, paid maternity leave, end to workplace discrimination
What was the impact of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women?
influence future legislation like the Civil Rights Act 1964
What was the social role of women in the post war period?
- women were pushed back into domestic roles due to returning servicemen
- Media idealised the suburban housewife
- 35% of civilian workers during WW2 but by 1950 it dropped to 28%
What famous book did Betty Friedan write and when was it?
- The Feminine Mystique
- 1963
How did The Feminine Mystique challenge traditional roles?
- criticised the myth of the ‘happy housewife’
- sparked the second wave of feminism
How were African American women affected socially during this period?
- faced dual discrimination
- excluded from many white feminist spaces
- led grassroots movements in civil rights, education, and welfare reform
How did the post-war economy affect women’s employment?
- job opportunities expanded during WW2 but contracted post 1945
- By 1960, women made up 38% of the workforce but were concentrated in low-paying roles
What was the significance of the Equal Pay Act and when was it?
- 1963
- mandated equal pay for equal work regardless of gender
What were the limitations of the Equal Pay Act 1963?
- vague wording like ‘substantially similar’ allowed for loopholes
- excluded domestic/agricultural work
- Wage gap persisted, women earned 59 cents to every $1 men made
What economic discrimination did minority women face?
- Black and Latina women were often restricted to agricultural and domestic work
- By 1960, 60% of Black women worked as maids of in service roles
What forms of opposition did women face in the 1950s and 1960s?
- cultural pressure to return to the home
- Women’s rights were not a political priority; civil rights and Cold War issues dominated the agenda.
- “Protective” labor laws that limited hours and banned certain jobs.
- Lower pay for the same work and firing/demotion for pregnancy
Why was the Equal Pay act 1963 a turning point?
- first federal legislation addressing workplace discrimination based on gender
- long term impact for setting a legal precedent for future anti-discrimination laws
What was the National Organisation for Women, when was it founded and what was the impact?
- 1966
- founded by Betty Friedan and others
- advocated for full equality in education, work, and politics
- used legal challenges and public campaigns
What was Title VII of the civil rights act and why was it significant?
- prohibited employment discrimination based on race, religion or SEX
- gave legal grounds for fighting workplace discrimination
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission formed to handle complaints, although initially slow
What did the Supreme Court rule in Reed v Reed and when was it?
- 1971 (slightly out of period)
- ruled it was unconstitutional to prefer men over women in estate administration
- first time the SC used Equal Protection Clause to protect women from discrimination
