sociology 1201 the feminist movement and the family how did the social construction of gender and...

Sociology 1201Sociology 1201

The feminist The feminist movement and the movement and the

familyfamilyHow did the social construction of gender and the How did the social construction of gender and the relative power and privileges of men and women relative power and privileges of men and women

become a major issue in American society?become a major issue in American society?

(More generally, how do social issues emerge?)(More generally, how do social issues emerge?)


Social MovementSocial Movement

DFN: Group of people organizing to DFN: Group of people organizing to promote (or sometimes resist) promote (or sometimes resist) change in society using means that change in society using means that are at least partly unconventional are at least partly unconventional (outside the norms)(outside the norms)– Strategy of those who have little Strategy of those who have little

institutional powerinstitutional power– Always invokes powerful oppositionAlways invokes powerful opposition– High riskHigh risk


11stst Wave of Feminism Wave of Feminism

Late 19Late 19thth and early 20 and early 20thth century century Basic legal and voting rightsBasic legal and voting rights 1920: Constitutional Amendment 1920: Constitutional Amendment

giving women the right to votegiving women the right to vote


Second Wave of FeminismSecond Wave of Feminism

Late 1960s and early 1970sLate 1960s and early 1970s Basic contention that the sex roles Basic contention that the sex roles

idealized in the 1950s were unfair idealized in the 1950s were unfair and arbitrary—a form of oppressionand arbitrary—a form of oppression


Two distinct sources of modern Two distinct sources of modern feminism in the United Statesfeminism in the United States

1. Older professional women who 1. Older professional women who founded the National Organization founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) for Women (NOW)

2. Younger women who had been 2. Younger women who had been involved in the civil rights and anti-involved in the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movementsVietnam War movements


NOWNOW

Founded by a group that walked out of a Founded by a group that walked out of a national meeting of President Kennedy’s national meeting of President Kennedy’s commissions on womencommissions on women

Central issuesCentral issues– Legal rights for women, culminating in a Legal rights for women, culminating in a

proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the ConstitutionConstitution

– Equal access to education and jobs: gender Equal access to education and jobs: gender added to the work of the Equal Opportunity added to the work of the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC)Employment Commission (EEOC)


Younger branch of modern Younger branch of modern feminismfeminism

Consciousness-raising groupsConsciousness-raising groups Changing personal relationships, Changing personal relationships,

including marriage and the familyincluding marriage and the family ““The personal is the political.”The personal is the political.”

Issues of sexual violence, battering, Issues of sexual violence, battering, and harassment raised by both and harassment raised by both branches of feminism. branches of feminism.


Effects on American women’s Effects on American women’s consciousnessconsciousness

1962: 2/3 of women responding to 1962: 2/3 of women responding to Gallup poll denied every being Gallup poll denied every being treated unequally based on sextreated unequally based on sex

1970: 50/501970: 50/50 1974: 2/3 reported unequal 1974: 2/3 reported unequal

treatmenttreatment

Were things getting worse—or was Were things getting worse—or was consciousness changing? consciousness changing?


Social forces creating 2Social forces creating 2ndnd wave wave

Increased labor force participationIncreased labor force participation Increased educationIncreased education Birth control technologyBirth control technology Smaller families and life course Smaller families and life course

changeschanges Rising divorce ratesRising divorce rates

Causality in both directions. Causality in both directions.


2 distinct viewpoints about family2 distinct viewpoints about family

1.1. Women, like men, should put major Women, like men, should put major energy into careers, with family energy into careers, with family involvement taking less hours (involvement taking less hours (The The Time BindTime Bind))

2.2. Men, like women, should put major Men, like women, should put major energy into family and home, energy into family and home, accepting a reduced standard of accepting a reduced standard of work achievement. (work achievement. (Halving It AllHalving It All))

sociology 1201 the feminist movement and the family how did the social construction of gender and...

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