The Women's Liberation Movement - Essay Example

This topic of ours is actually the essence of the speech delivered by Ms.Kathy Amatniek to the main assembly of the Jeanette Rankin Brigade on the 15th of January 1968 in Washington DC. Though this discussion covers a part of this historic event, we shall try covering the major aspects of this issue. In this speech that she delivered, she rightly pointed the need for women to understand that they should unite, not just to let men know their power, but let them understand what women are capable of.

The protest shown by them was unique, which showed a dummy that represented the helpless aged traditional womanhood in America. Their idea to bury it in Arlington was to let people know their giving up of the traditional womanhood and adopting modern values. This idea though has not seen light immediately, did not fail completely to bring about a change in women in America. There were number of causes for women to put up this protest and show their emotions, one being their strong opposition to the Vietnam War.

Even before staging this protest, they were aware that this would not have a great impact because they were all powerless women trying to change the phase of the Nation. They no longer wanted to play the role of traditional women losing their values to the useless womanhood that held them in the fist of traditional values and never letting them explore a better world. To strongly show their protest to the traditional womanhood, they chose a “dramatic action that would be least offensive and most effective” (woman power).

They organized a funeral procession with a dummy that reflected the traditional women. Every characteristic the dummy had reflected the traditional womanhood emotions and qualities. The dummy had a blank face reflecting the helplessness of the women in the cover of the traditional womanhood and their inability to express their views or actually talk before men. The blonde curls and hairspray represent the glam doll look that the traditional women had put on to make men happy. This was made clear through the lines in the pamphlets that read “Traditional Women were Beautiful.

but really powerless” (woman power). This had a greater significance as they depicted the traditional womanhood with all the qualities that men just wanted. Their idea to bury the dummy in Arlington cemetery which signified the burial of the traditional womanhood showed people what they were up to. “This publicity led to a great change in the involvement of women in America, and especially in the American politics of the time; women finally found their voice” (Women and War 1941-1975). Though their best efforts were not completely fruitful, they learnt lessons about spontaneity when there was a group separation.

But ultimately in some form the women who alleged this procession showed their protest and opposition to the Vietnam War through the lines “You have resisted your roles of supportive girl friends and tearful widows, receivers of regretful telegrams and worthless medals of honor” (woman power). Ms.Kathy Amatniek who strongly opposed the traditional womanhood, ridiculed the traditional womanhood through a sad procession. She personified the traditional womanhood to a an old lady who survived many challenges but had finally passed away after witnessing many affronting acts.