Feminism in the 60s
Hardly long ago, women were denied many of the rights and respect paid to the general population of men. Many of the first achievements by men, such as attending an Ivy League university, venturing into space, or voting, were difficult for women to achieve due to limits set by society, hence their struggles.
These limitations caused many troubles for women during and before the second-wave feminist movement. Nevertheless, the female power rising from 1960-1970 persisted in claiming their independence, empowerment, and liberation.
Female discrimination during the 20th century was nothing short of firm and oppressive; such as gender disparities in pay, workplace harassment, and divorce laws. During this immense struggle, women fought for a place and voice in society. As such, the media played a crucial part in inspiring others to join the cause. One includes Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique, a best-selling book that encouraged American women to reevaluate their position and social roles, helping widespread public activism for gender equality.
There were other countless feminist figures that helped sew the fabric of freedom for women. Gloria Steinem became the leader and spokeswoman for the second wave of Women’s Rights Movement, deterring the impression that society had on feminist issues. To this day, Steinem continues to dedicate her legacy to the cause, as shown in her efforts by participating in the founding of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), Voters for Choice (co-founded by Kristina Kiehl), and the Women’s Media Center (WMC).
Before abortion was legal, it was a crime to participate in the procedure if a doctor or physician did not say otherwise. However, this led to many complications in which women were unsafely and illegally aborting their babies, leading to around 2,700 deaths in 1930. In this light, the ’60s showed an uprising of many movements and protests for abortion to be legal, proceeding in the 1973 Roe v Wade case. Roe v Wade was a Supreme Court landmark in which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas statute banning abortion, effectively legalizing the procedure across the United States. A most revolutionary achievement for women that jump started the plethora of further rights.
Aside from the divisive opinions on the matter and its 2022 overturning, the ruling represents a testament to female empowerment. In the same respect, countless other women throughout history have lent their strength and talents to the cause, regardless of endangerment or harassment. The 60s and 70s demonstrated a remarkable era of change, calling for social reform and asserting legislative power for equal rights.
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