Women's Suffrage (The First Wave of Feminism)
We can't talk about feminism without talking about women's suffrage and the right to vote. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone started the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1869. The NAWSA believed that the right to vote should be fought at the state level through educational means. If the states supported and passed laws, the federal government would have to follow. After the deaths of Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1902 and Susan B. Anthony in 1906 the movement began to deteriorate.
Alice Stokes Paul felt the movement needed to concentrate on getting a federal suffrage amendment passed. She then started the Congressional Union for Women's Suffrage. Her tactics were seen as too extreme for NAWSA and the Congressional Union broke into a separate movement. In 1916 the Congressional Union formed the Woman's Party, and in 1917 the two organizations merged to form the National Woman's Party (NWP). The NWP used far more extreme strategies by organizing street marches, open air meetings, hunger strikes, and even picketing the white house. The woman faced violence each day, signs were ripped from their hands, they were arrested, and faced harsh prison conditions. The newspaper headlines garnered enormous public support for the suffrage movement. On August 26, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was added to the constitution, allowing women the right to vote.
We can't talk about feminism without talking about women's suffrage and the right to vote. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone started the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1869. The NAWSA believed that the right to vote should be fought at the state level through educational means. If the states supported and passed laws, the federal government would have to follow. After the deaths of Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1902 and Susan B. Anthony in 1906 the movement began to deteriorate.
Alice Stokes Paul felt the movement needed to concentrate on getting a federal suffrage amendment passed. She then started the Congressional Union for Women's Suffrage. Her tactics were seen as too extreme for NAWSA and the Congressional Union broke into a separate movement. In 1916 the Congressional Union formed the Woman's Party, and in 1917 the two organizations merged to form the National Woman's Party (NWP). The NWP used far more extreme strategies by organizing street marches, open air meetings, hunger strikes, and even picketing the white house. The woman faced violence each day, signs were ripped from their hands, they were arrested, and faced harsh prison conditions. The newspaper headlines garnered enormous public support for the suffrage movement. On August 26, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was added to the constitution, allowing women the right to vote.
Women's liberation movement (Second Wave of Feminism)
In 1960, the birth control pill was approved by the FDA. This gave women control over their bodies which had never before been possible. Women could chose when to have a baby and were no longer looking for a Mrs. Degree (going to a university just to find a husband). This allowed women to compete with men when it came to their careers. In 1963 The Equal Pay Act was passed by congress, the act stated that equal pay for equal work no matter what your race, sex, religion, or nation of origin. At the time women were paid 57 cents for every dollar a man earned. Today the number has increased to 78 cents for ever dollar a man earns.
In 1964 the Civil Rights Act passed which ends employment discrimination based on sex, race, and religion or national origin. This, however, did not happen--women were still being unfairly treated in the workplace. In 1966 at the Third National Conference on the Commission on the Status of Women in Washington, D.C., Betty Friedan and 28 additional women created the National Organization for Women (NOW). In 1967 the membership had grown to over a thousand, and with the growth in numbers came the rallies, demonstrations and marches. They championed victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and new legislation was passed. They also took on the fight for abortion and reproductive rights for women. As of 2008, NOW has over 500,000 members.
In 1960, the birth control pill was approved by the FDA. This gave women control over their bodies which had never before been possible. Women could chose when to have a baby and were no longer looking for a Mrs. Degree (going to a university just to find a husband). This allowed women to compete with men when it came to their careers. In 1963 The Equal Pay Act was passed by congress, the act stated that equal pay for equal work no matter what your race, sex, religion, or nation of origin. At the time women were paid 57 cents for every dollar a man earned. Today the number has increased to 78 cents for ever dollar a man earns.
In 1964 the Civil Rights Act passed which ends employment discrimination based on sex, race, and religion or national origin. This, however, did not happen--women were still being unfairly treated in the workplace. In 1966 at the Third National Conference on the Commission on the Status of Women in Washington, D.C., Betty Friedan and 28 additional women created the National Organization for Women (NOW). In 1967 the membership had grown to over a thousand, and with the growth in numbers came the rallies, demonstrations and marches. They championed victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and new legislation was passed. They also took on the fight for abortion and reproductive rights for women. As of 2008, NOW has over 500,000 members.
In 1973 the Supreme Courts legalized abortion with Roe v. Wade. Since then, many states have enacted laws restricting abortion which include the following:
"The laws that have been passed, in the last couple of years especially, really make women walk through a gauntlet to get abortions, throughout the country," said Eric Ferrero, a spokesman for Planned Parenthood.
- Physician and Hospital requirements (39 states)
- Gestational Limits (42 states)
- Partial Birth Abortion Laws (19 states)
- State Mandated Counseling (17 states)
- Waiting Periods (26 states)
- Parental Involvement (38 states)
"The laws that have been passed, in the last couple of years especially, really make women walk through a gauntlet to get abortions, throughout the country," said Eric Ferrero, a spokesman for Planned Parenthood.
Trans-feminism (Third Wave of Feminism)
Trans-feminism Started in the early 90's with all-girl punk bands such as Bikini Kill and Brat Mobile. This wave of feminism has also been called lipstick, girlie, riot grrl, cybergrrl, and grrl feminism. They see themselves as confident, tough, competent women, who have less sexism and more opportunities then the generations before them. Instead of fighting against the stereotypes of women they amplify them, starting with the word girl. They have also championed movements in support of the LGBT community and fought for equality for different races and cultures. More information can be found at the Third Wave Fund link at the bottom of the page, along with information concerning the start of the movement with Riot Grrrl. |
Trans-feminist Manifesto:
Transversal Politics
Believes there is a possibility of a dialog between women across national, ethnic, and religious boundaries. That although they all have deeply rooted beliefs and values that they can all sit and listen and explore different viewpoints. For more information, please see the Women Against Fundamentalism link below.
- To define one's own identity and to expect society to respect it
- To make decisions regarding one's own body
- Believe that individuals should be able to construct their own gender identities as they see fit
Transversal Politics
Believes there is a possibility of a dialog between women across national, ethnic, and religious boundaries. That although they all have deeply rooted beliefs and values that they can all sit and listen and explore different viewpoints. For more information, please see the Women Against Fundamentalism link below.