History timelines for Women Flashcards
(24 cards)
Before WW1 - Political
Starting with Wyoming 1869, 8 states gave women vote before WW1 Female support for Prohibition increased support for women’s suffrage
Women gaining the vote 1920 - WW2 - Political
Became 19th Amendment with support of President, Congress & states Women influenced Prohibition & welfare improvements Perkins became first female Cabinet minister 1933 & Bethune also influenced New Deal; FDR’s admin employed more women in senior positions than any other before 1960s Ferraro first female vice presidential candidate 1984 But only 9 women had entered federal politics by 1939
WW1 - Political
Women’s participation in war effort increased support for women’s suffrage; 20 states had already granted it by end of war President Wilson & House of Representatives supported it by 1918
WW2 - Political
Little change; politics remained male dominated; in fact % of women in Congress actually fell
1945-63 - Political
No. of women in Congress actually declined 1950-70
1963-73 - Political
% of women in Congress nearly quadrupled 1970-92, though even then only 6% of congressmen female No female state governors until 1974
1973-92 - Political
There were 7 female state governors by 1990, by when 19 of 100 biggest cities had female mayor In 1986 female vote gave Democrats control of Senate
WW1 - Education & Employment
Unprecedented employment opportunities in war industries, govt offices or as nurses Some took over management of farms & businesses AA women as well as men migrated north to get better jobs But effect limited as war lasted only 18 months & most replaced by men when war ended
Before WW1 - Education & Employment
Industrialisation & inventions of typewriter & telephone transformed women’s employment prospects, enabling them to escape domestic employment for better paid factory or office work; educated women could work as teachers or librarians Women gained right to control own property & earnings
By 1900 1/2 of high school graduates female Women gained more access to higher education & by 1900 at least 1/2 of female graduates were delaying marriages so they could prolong careers But women still confined to junior positions & lower paid professions
Women gaining the vote 1920 - WW2 - Education & Employment
2 million more women entered workforce during 1920s boom & % of married women in workforce rose to 29% Invention of washing machines, vacuum cleaners etc reduced domestic burden 1920s legislation improved welfare & limited working hours but most of this reversed by 1929
New Deal created jobs for women (WPA & CCCs), limited working hours & improved minimum wages & welfare But women benefited less than men & still earned less for same work
WW2 - Education & Employment
By 1945 5 million more US women worked than 1940, including ethnic minority women who migrated to get better paid industrial or office jobs; 350,000 women joined armed forces Improved access to higher education & better working conditions including childcare facilities but this didn’t last after war; by 1946 only 3 states provided childcare facilities
But Servicemen’s Readjustment Act gave priority in education & employment to men over women & women expected to give up jobs for returning servicemen
1945-63 - Education & Employment
In 1945 75% of women wanted to carry on working & twice as many worked 1960 as 1940 as women benefited from boom in service jobs Increasingly women worked out of choice rather than financial necessity
1963-73 - Education & Employment
Equal Pay & Civil Rights Acts 1963-4 Increased higher education opportunities (though men benefited more than women) but by 1980s nearly ½ of graduates women By 1970, women made up 43% of work force but in 1970s less than 5% of senior managers women
1973-92 - Education & Employment
By 1989 73% of married women with children of school age working & by end of 1980s more women were employed than men, forming 57% of the workforce; by 1992 young, educated women averaged 98% of male earnings.
But even by 1992 women on average earned 32% less than men By 1996 US women owned 7.7 million businesses employing 15.5 million people
Before WW1 - Birth Control
B/c of these trends & better awareness of birth control birth rate among white women declined by 1/3 1850-1900 Divorce rate doubled 1880-1900
Women gaining the Vote 1920 to WW2 - Birth Control
“Flappers” gained increased social & sexual freedom but only middle class white women could really benefit from this & taboo against pregnancy outside marriage still strong Areas of female employment like retail excluded from much New Deal protection Federal ban on birth control ended 1938 but many states continued to ban it
1945-63 - Birth Control
In 1950 the median average age at which women married dropped to only just over 20 & the average number of children per family rose from 3.1 to 3.8 1950-7.
1963-73 - Birth Control
Introduction of contraceptive pill 1960s + federal legalisation of contraception 1965 & abortion 1973 gave all women for first time access to birth control & allowed them to plan families in line with career
1973-92 - Birth Control
Resurgence of religious right in 1980s led to access to abortion being restricted No. of unmarried mothers trebled in 1980s & many lived in poverty b/c of welfare cuts & lack of paid maternity leave
Before WW1 - Activism
Suffrage movement started 1848 but divided between NWSA & AWSA until 1890, when NAWSA formed Addams, Kelley & National Consumers’ League campaigned for reforms of health, housing & working conditions Addams started Settlement House movement WCTU campaigned for Prohibition Margaret Sanger campaigned for birth control 1911
WW1 - Activism
Alice Paul founded radical Women’s Party 1917 & suffering of suffragists in prison gained male sympathy
Women gaining the Vote 1920 to WW2 - Activism
Paul campaigned for ERA from 1923 Sanger opened first legal birth control clinic 1923 Sabin & WONPR influenced repeal of Prohibition
WW2 - Activism
Women focused on war effort rather than activism on women’s issues
1945-63 - Activism
Feminism seen as thing of past until revived by publication of “Feminine Mystique” 1963 & formation of NOW 1966 Aggressive “bra burning” tactics raised awareness but not necessarily sympathy Abortion controversy following Roe v Wade in 1973 created anti-feminist backlash Female activists divided over abortion & ERA; Schlafly campaigned against both, leading to defeat of ERA 1982
