The Woman's Liberation Movement - Term Paper Example

The Woman's Liberation Movement The women’s suffrage movement, which arguably began with strong feminine voices such as Abigail Adams at the time of the country’s founding, succeeded in securing voting privileges for women via the 19th Amendment in 1920. Following this historic landmark in women’s rights the feminist movement, or ‘women’s liberation,’ dramatically slowed until its rapid and fervent revival during the early 1960’s. Although the right to vote was an important advancement for women, the daughters and granddaughters of the outspoken and courageous women who labored so long and hard for the suffrage movement were still living in a society that not only accepted but promoted their subservience to men. The American culture expected women to ‘keep the home.’ The television programs of the 1950’s clearly demonstrate this reality. Prior to the 1960’s and 1970’s women were commonly vilified and thought of as egocentric if their personal ambitions did not comprise cooking meals, cleaning, caring for children, and being the obedient wife of their husbands. The idea of feminism was one of scorn and mockery during this time. It was also understood to be opposed to the basic tenets of Christianity. The efforts of numerous women such as Gloria Steinum, Ruth Rosen and Betty Friedan during the 1960’ revitalized the women’s movement and laid the foundation for changes in both public perception of feminism as well as the law for all time. Although the women’s liberation movement is often understood as being of a uniform ideology it actually is very diverse consisting basically of two differing perspectives on feminist thought fundamentally divided by age and, radical and liberal. The significant achievement for the women’s liberation movement that began in the 1960’s was to give voice to very private matters such as domestic violence, date rape, workplace discrimination and sexual harassment by forcing these subjects into the public debate thus instigating changes concerning both social attitudes and legislation. The changes began when President John F. Kennedy formed the Commission on the Status of Women in 1961. Betty Friedan, an outspoken feminist was part of this commission. In 1966 Friedan created the National Organization for Women (NOW), the first new feminist organization in nearly 50 years. NOW was the initial and remains the most recognized but it was only beginning of the organized expression of the women’s movement. “The (women’s) movement actually has two origins, from two different strata’s of society, with two different styles, orientations, values, and forms of organization” (Freeman, 1971) These unaligned women’s groups were thought of as separate in structure and motive throughout the 1960’s but by 1970, these numerous groups loosely aligned by two uncommon composition and origin merged in the collective conscience of the American public under the familiar terminology of the women’s liberation movement. The first faction which included NOW, the Professional Women’s Caucus, the Federally Employed Women and the Women’s Equity Action League, the self-described ‘right-wing’ of the movement, whose demographic consisted largely of older women than other groups formed during the 1960’s. The older group consisted mainly of women who worked outside the home plus older homemakers who were sympathetic to the cause. The younger factions were generally college-aged young women who came from the civil rights movement. The women’s equality groups of the ‘younger generation’ heard the words and witnessed the efforts of the ‘older generation’ such as Betty Friedan, who wrote the very popular book, The Feminine Mystique, who said “A woman has got to be able to say, and not feel guilty, ‘Who am I, and what do I want out of life’? She mustn’t feel selfish and neurotic if she wants goals of her own, outside of husband and children” (“Betty Friedan” 2007) No one can argue that women have traditionally been subjugated to the status of second-class citizen subject to oppressive tactics merely because of their gender in a patriarchal dominated society. According to feminists thought the subjugation of women continues today even after the significant achievements of the feminist movement during the 1960’s and 1970’s. The consequence of ending the archaic concept of a patriarchy can only be the liberation of not only women but of racial and religious minorities, gays, and men too. “Patriarchy is the system which oppresses women through its social, economic and political institutions. Throughout history men have had greater power in both the public and private spheres. To maintain this power, men have created boundaries and obstacles for women, thus making it harder for women to hold power” (Kramarae et al, 1985). History has clearly shown that a patriarchal society oppresses women, gays and minorities. Feminists are rightly understood to be independent thinkers. They think for themselves and though of the same cause are not of the same mind. Though some may have the same opinion regarding the majority of a certain feminist theory or doctrine these same women may reject some the feminist principles entirely. Whatever the particular point of view all agree feminism advocates equality, a workplace and home where women have an equal share of rights and control. During the 1960’s, women started developing ideas to help articulate the oppression they suffered which initiated the modern-day feminist movement. Throughout the 1970’s, the more rebellious segments of the movement began mobilizing and coordinating efforts to more directly confront the status quo patriarchy. However, by the 1980’s, factions within the movement began to differ on specific aspects relating to feminist thought. “Today, there are as many definitions of feminism as there are feminists. Each definition of feminism depends on a number of factors including one’s own beliefs, history and culture.” (Kramarae et al,1985). Radical feminism espouses the fundamental concepts for what is normally identified as feminism. According to the radical feminist philosophy, the subjugation of women is the oldest type of oppression and the worst kind of tyranny. This is due to the fact that patriarchal societies have controlled the world since the beginning of humanity dominating women regardless of race, culture or class. Radical feminism endorses emancipating not just women but men too from the rigid gender roles imposed on them by society. “Sometimes radical feminists believe that they must wage a war against men, patriarchy, and the gender system which confines them to rigid social roles. They completely reject these roles, all aspects of patriarchy, and in some cases, they reject men as well” (Daly, 1990). Liberal feminism is usually identified with the 1960’s civil rights movement. Their central position, simply stated, is that all people, men included, shown have equal rights. The objective of achieving equal rights and opportunities are shared by liberal and radical feminists alike however their points of view differ. Liberal feminists advocate for individual rights while radical feminists look more to social changes. Feminists as well as many women of all political persuasions rightly think women has throughout history and continuing today been victims of both subtle and overt manners of male oppression. Conservative Republican ideologues, according to activist Ruth Rosen, are actively trying to reverse the achievements made by the feminist movement and drive American society back to a male-dominated system. “The truth is we’re living with the legacy of an unfinished gender revolution. Real equality for women, who increasingly work outside the home, requires that liberals place the care crisis at the core of their agenda and take back ‘family values’ from the right” (Ruth Rosen, 2007). Essentially, the women’s movement which was ignited by feminist ideas from its formative years more than a century ago to the contemporary movement of the 1960’s and continuing today, has effectively addressed human rights and equality for women. It has been influential in laws that have ensured these rights. “The women’s movement raises awareness of issues that directly affect women and indirectly affect our culture” (McPhee, 1997: A23). Among the achievements of feminist movement are government sponsored child care, legal, thus safe, abortions, stricter rape and domestic violence laws the improvement of equal opportunities in the workplace and the progression of gay rights. Although radical and liberal feminists frequently disagree, this division is typical for any politically motivated group. “All movements are fraught with extremism, infighting, and power struggles” (McPhee, 1997: A23). The Women’s Liberation Movement originated from two different mind sets and advocates two broadly different ways of thinking. Feminist concerns are multifaceted consequently the approaches to rectifying the historical inequities are usually inadequate and contentious. Feminists are not of one mind and don’t agree on the all the issues or answers. Additionally, the individual circumstances of women are different therefore not all needs of every woman have been addressed. What all feminists and those sensitive to their concerns should understand is that the objective of leveling the playing field for everyone is a continuous effort and the central goal of equality is the same. This was the objective of the women’s suffrage movement, the feminist movement of the 1960’s and lives on today in all fair-minded persons. Works Cited “Betty Friedan.” Women’s Political Communication Archive Iowa State University (2007). June 15, 2011 Daly, Mary. Gyn/Ecology: The Metaethics of Radical Feminism. Boston: Beacon Press. (November 1990). Kramarae, Cheris and Treichler, Paula A., with assistance from Ann Russo. A Feminist Dictionary. London, Boston: Pandora Press. (1985). McPhee, John. “A Feminist Redefined.” The New York Times. p. A23. (March 4, 1997). Rosen, Ruth. “The Care Crisis” The Nation Magazine (February 22, 2007). June 15, 2011 Read More