From "June Cleaver" to Women's Movement & Reaction

1950s-1980s+

14-Chapter 14: Documents: Louisa Randall Church; Marynia Farnham; Pauli Murray; Joyce Johnson; The Ladder; Betty Friedan; Joanne Meyerowitz, "Competing Images," pp. 426-435;Rickie Solinger, "Women and the Politics of Hospital Abortion Committees," pp. 435-445

How do attitiudes, ideas, and images about women change in the postwar era? In this chapter, you are treated to historiography--changing views of WWII women over time. Betty Friedan's account is both a "primary source," a view of the times from the times-and a secondary source, as Betty Friedan's work have informed us of women's postwar experiences. Meyerowitz questions Friedan's view, claiming that her view was one of competing ideas about women in the postwar world.

Too, regarding the very significant history of abortion, what are the major historical patterns? What happens in the fifties and why? Do you know anyone in your family who was forced to get an illegal abortion? An abortion in the fifties or earlier? How do we explain the changes in medical and legal ideas regarding abortion? After WWII, what ideas do you find present regarding women's social roles?

1-Louise Randall Church & Peace (1946)

2-Marynia Farnham on "lost Sex" (1947)

3-Pauli Murray on Marriage (1947)

4-Joyce Johnson and Abortion in NYC (1955)

5-Letter to the Ladder (1957)

6- Friedan on "Problem that has no name" (1963)

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Joanne Meyorowitz, "Competing Images of Women in Postwar Mass Culture"

What is Meyorowitz's argument about the depiction of women in the media, in culture? What are her examples?

Rickie Solinger, "Women and the Politics of Hospital Abortion Committees"

How is abortion viewed in this era by women and by hospitals? How does access to abortion change in this era and why?

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15-Chapter 15: Documents: Casey Hayden; NOW; Frances Beale; Mirta Vidal; ERA; Boston Women's Health Collective; Roe v. Wade; Lindsy Van Gelder; Connaught C. Marshner; Alicia Chavez, "Dolores Huerta," pp. 469-476; Nancy MaClean, "Uncovering the History of Working Women," pp. 477-487;Wendy Kline, "Women Readers and the Feminist Health Movement," pp. 487-498

These years are characterized by a youth movement, and by a "generation gap" between children and parents. Too, the "Pill" brings about much change, along with a focus on women's health isues. PBS has a film entitled "The Pill," and on their webpage, there are also interviews with women before and after the pill. You will enjoy this.

Mostly, I have you read documents here, so enjoy . . . what do these documents reveal about changes in women's lives?

1-Casey Hayden and Mary King (1965)

2-NOW Statement of Purpose (1966)

3-Frances Beale on Double Jeopardy (1970)

4-Mirta Vidal (1971)

5-Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) (1972)

6-Boston Women's Health Book Collective (1973)

7-Roe v. Wade (1973)

8-Lindsay Van Gelder(1973)

9-Connaught Marshner(1988)

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Alicia Chavez, "Dolores Hueerta and the United Farm Workers

What was Huerta's pesonal background and what is her role in the organization of the UFW?

Nancy Maclean, "Uncovering the History of Working Women," pp. 477-487

How does Maclean characterize the various affirmative action movements on behalf of better jobs and working conditions in the 1960s and 1970s? Would change have occurred without the lawsuits? What kinds of lawsuits were brought, and against whom?

Wendy Kline, "Women Readers and the Feminist Health Movement," pp. 487-498

What did the Boston Health collective do, and why? What were the conditions for women in the medical world at the time? What kinds of changes did these women want and why?

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16-Chapter 16: Documents: Anita Hill; Planned Parenthood v. Casey; Gloria Anzaldua; Immigrant Women; Jamala McFadden; Rebecca Walker; Rights Women Could Lose; Gwendolyn Mink, "Feminists and the Politics of Welfare Reform," pp. 524-532; Barbara Epstein, "Feminist Consciousness After the Women's Movement," pp. 532-537

What happens to the Women's Rights' Movement by the late 1970s? Why is there such reaction to it, and how is this reaction seen in women's issues such as welfare? What remain the most important women's issues?

Gwendolyn Mink, "Feminists and the Politics of Welfare Reform," pp. 524-532

How have issues of welfare reform divided feminists? What accounts for the politics of welfare reform, according to Mink? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Barbara Epstein, "Feminist Consciousness After the Women's Movement," pp. 532-537

How does Epstein see the changes in Feminism since the women's movement? This really isn't that long ago--what do you think and why? To what extent is your generation interested in the condition of women? Why or why not?