1970 - 1992 Flashcards
(14 cards)
How did women’s political representation change between 1970 - 1992?
- slow but steady growth in female political involvement, underrepresentation continued
- 1971, women made up 4.5% of congress; by 1992 rose to 10.5%
What was the significance of the year 1992 for women?
- became known as the ‘Year of the Woman’
- record numbers of women were elected following the Anita Hill hearings
How did feminist groups influence politics in this period?
- Groups like National Organisation for Women lobbied for the equal rights amendment, abortion rights and anti-discrimination laws
- helped shape public views and supported female candidates
When was Roe v Wage and how did it affect women’s rights?
- 1973
- legalised abortion nation wide, citing the right to privacy
- major win for women
- abortion-related deaths fell significantly in the decade after
What role did the second-wave feminism play socially in the 1970s and 1980s?
- challenged gender roles, sexual politics and traditional family structures
- brought attention to issues like domestic violence, rape and reproductive rights
How did the experiences of minority women develop during this period?
- Black, Latina, and Native women critiqued mainstream feminism for being too white and middle class
- groups like the Combahee River Collective 1977 emphasised race, class and gender oppression
How did the gender pay gap change from 1970 - 1992?
- improved slightly, but significant disparities remained
- women earned 59% of men’s wages in 1973; by 1992 it was 72%
What was the impact of the Education amendments and when were they?
- 1972
- prohibited sex-based discrimination in any federally funded educational program
- expanded women’s access to sports and higher education
How did women’s educational participation increase from 1970 - 1992?
female college enrolment rose from 43% to 55%
What impact did the Pregnancy Discriminatory act have and when was it?
- 1978
- amended Title VII in the Educational amendments on to prohibit discrimination on the basis of pregnancy
- gave legal protection against firing or demotion due to pregnancy
What opposition did the Equal Rights Amendment face?
- Phyllis Schlafly’s STOP ERA campaign argued it would destroy traditional family roles and harm women
- claimed ERA would force women into the the draft and remove protection for housewives
- ERA was passed by Congress in 1972 but failed to gain ratification from the 38 states by the 1982 deadline
How did conservative politics affect women’s rights in the 1980’s?
- Reagan-era conservatism promoted traditional gender roles and cut funding for women’s programs
- feminism was framed as anti-family by religious and political conservatives
Why was the defeat of the ERA in 1982 a turning point?
- marked a significant blow to the constitutional equality movement
- shifted feminist focus from constitutional amendments to targeted legal and policy reforms
How was 1992 a turning point for women?
- Sparked by the Anita Hill sexual harassment testimony against Clarence Thomas (SC judge)
- record number of women were elected to congress
- 4 elected to the senate and 24 to the house
- Known as ‘Year of the Woman’
