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The Continuing Fight For Equality. How do other groups in America continue the struggle for equal rights?. Feminism. 1950: Betty Friedan raises the issue of depression among housewives in her book The Feminine Mystique
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The Continuing Fight For Equality How do other groups in America continue the struggle for equal rights?
Feminism • 1950: Betty Friedan raises the issue of depression among housewives in her book The Feminine Mystique • Women realize they do not have equal responsibilities or opportunities in society! Feminist movement begins.
Women Organize • 1966: National Organization for Women (NOW) forms • Goals: 1) Child care to allow women to work 2) end gender discrimination in the workplace (175K members by 1970) • NOW protests Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. On the AC boardwalk NOW throws bras, girdles, wigs at contestants • 1971: Gloria Steinem forms more moderate organization called National Women’s Political Caucus • Starts Ms. Magazine to bring women’s issues to mainstream
Roe v. Wade (1972) • NOW becomes involved in a woman’s right to an abortion • Norma McCorvey attempts to have an abortion but Texas only allows abortion in case of rape or incest • McCorvey & NOW sue Dallas DA Henry Wade under the name of Jane Roe, case is appealed to the US Supreme Court • Sup. Court rules 7-2 that a woman has the right to choose an abortion in first 3 mos of pregnancy, no matter circumstances
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) • 1972: Congress passes the Equal Rights Amendment – constitutional guarantee of gender equality, Nixon signs it • Must be approved by 38 of 50 (75%) of states to become law • Phyllis Schlafly starts conservative “stop-ERA campaign” • Amendment fails, falls 3 states short of passage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN2GhE3nf-o&safe=active
Stonewall Riots • Stonewall Inn in NY was one of the few bars that allowed openly gay patrons • NYPD, who routinely raided gay bars to arrest the patrons, raided Stonewall Inn in June of 1969 • Crowd gathered at Stonewall, begin to fight back against police, riot ensues • Gays and police clash throughout 1970, Gays & Lesbians begin to fight for equal rights
Milk Fights For Gay Rights • As Gays advocate for equal rights, Conservative America responds w/ anti-gay laws • Singer Anita Bryant got behind a movement to repeal a law that made it illegal to discriminate against homosexuals • In San Francisco, Harvey Milk became the countries first openly gay elected official • In public speeches Milk challenged Bryant and others who were trying to pass new laws, like Prop 6 in California • Milk was killed by a disgruntled SF Supervisor Dan White, who resigned and could not get his job back