1945 - 1969 Flashcards
(20 cards)
How did WWII impact women’s employment and social roles?
- During WWII, over 19 million women entered the workforce
- many in traditionally male-dominated industries like manufacturing and munitions.
- By 1945, women made up 35% of the civilian workforce, a significant increase from pre-war levels.
What happened to women’s employment after WWII?
- After the war ended, women were encouraged to leave their wartime jobs to make space for returning servicemen.
- By 1950, the percentage of women in the workforce had dropped to 28%.
- Many women who retained their jobs were confined to sectors like clerical work, education, and nursing.
What was the idealized role of women in the 1950s?
- In the 1950s, women were often portrayed as housewives and mothers in media, reinforcing traditional gender roles.
- The suburban housewife became an idealized figure
- many women were pushed back into domestic roles after the war.
How did the economic boom of the 1950s affect women?
- The post-war economic boom in the 1950s led to more job opportunities for women
- but societal pressures still kept them in traditional roles.
- Many women were encouraged to prioritize family life and domestic responsibilities over career ambitions.
How many women were in the workforce by 1960?
- By 1960, women made up 38% of the workforce.
- However, women were concentrated in lower-paying, traditionally female-dominated sectors like teaching, nursing, and clerical jobs.
How were Black women affected in the post-war economy?
- Black women faced both racial and gender discrimination in the workforce.
- By 1960, approximately 60% of Black women were employed in domestic or service roles
- earning lower wages than white women in similar positions.
What was the role of the media in the 1950s and 1960s regarding women?
- The media heavily promoted the image of the ‘suburban housewife’ and idealized domestic life for women.
- TV shows and advertisements often portrayed women as dependent on men, reinforcing traditional gender roles.
What was the significance of the 1963 book ‘The Feminine Mystique’ by Betty Friedan?
- ‘The Feminine Mystique’ (1963) by Betty Friedan criticized the notion that women found fulfilment solely in domestic life.
- The book sparked the beginning of the second wave of feminism
- highlighted the discontentment of many middle-class housewives, and it became a rallying cry for greater gender equality.
How did the 1960s feminist movement differ from previous movements?
- The feminist movement of the 1960s focused not only on women’s suffrage but also on workplace equality, reproductive rights, and an end to gender-based discrimination.
- It was more radical and politically active than the first wave, which had been focused primarily on securing voting rights.
What was the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, and what did it recommend?
- 1961
- President Kennedy created the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, led by Eleanor Roosevelt.
- The Commission’s 1963 report recommended equal pay for equal work, paid maternity leave, and an end to workplace discrimination.
- These recommendations helped shape future legislation.
What was the impact of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women?
- The Commission’s recommendations influenced major legislative changes, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- which addressed gender discrimination in the workplace
When was the Equal Pay Act passed, and what did it mandate?
- The Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963.
- It mandated that men and women be paid equally for equal work.
- faced limitations due to vague language and persistent wage gaps.
What were the limitations of the Equal Pay Act of 1963?
- vague wording, such as the phrase ‘substantially similar,’ allowed employers to continue paying women less for similar work.
- also excluded certain sectors, like domestic and agricultural work, where many women were employed.
- Despite the law women only earned 59 cents for every dollar men made by 1963.
What was Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and why was it significant?
- prohibited employment discrimination based on race, religion, and sex.
- This was a major victory for women’s rights, providing legal grounds to challenge discrimination in the workplace
- created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to investigate complaints.
How did Title VII of the Civil Rights Act affect women?
- Title VII allowed women to file lawsuits and complaints regarding gender discrimination in the workplace.
- However, the law’s implementation was initially slow, and it did not immediately end workplace discrimination.
How did the National Organization for Women (NOW) influence women’s rights in the 1960s?
- Founded in 1966 by Betty Friedan and others
- NOW advocated for full gender equality in education, work, and politics.
- NOW’s campaigns and legal challenges helped bring women’s issues into the national spotlight
What were the goals of the National Organization for Women (NOW)?
- NOW aimed to secure equal opportunities for women in education, employment, and politics.
- It pushed for changes in federal laws and fought against workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, and gender stereotypes.
How were African American women affected socially in the 1960s?
- African American women faced dual discrimination based on both race and gender.
- They were often excluded from many mainstream feminist spaces
- African American women led grassroots efforts in civil rights, welfare reform, and education.
What were the limitations of women’s rights legislation in the 1960s?
- women continued to face workplace discrimination, unequal pay, and limited job opportunities.
- Additionally, many laws excluded certain groups of women, like Black and Latina women, who were disproportionately employed in low-wage jobs.
What was the significance of the Supreme Court case Reed v. Reed?
- 1971,
- ruled that it was unconstitutional for men to be preferred over women in estate administration.
- This was the first time the Court used the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to protect women from discrimination
