How successful was the

second wave feminist movement?

 Betty Friedan pointed to the

problem that has no name.
First president of National
Organization of Women (NOW)

Issues addressed by NOW (National

Organization of Women):
- Cultural notions regarding
expectations for women

Rise of post-war consumerism led advertisers to

target women, perpetuating limited expectations
associated with the cult of domesticity

Gloria Steinham
published Ms.
magazine in 1971, the
first popular magazine
geared towards
empowering women

Staged public
demonstrations
to raise
awareness
about
problematic
events such as
the Miss
America
pageant

Battled legal discrimination and lack of reproductive rights ie:

Unfair labor practices (segregated help wanted ads)
Lack of paid maternity leave
Lack of an equal rights amendment to protect women
Lack of reproductive rights (Comstock laws)
Lack of access to birth control Though the first birth
control pill was approved by the FDA in 1960, in many states
it was legally prescribable only to married women
CHIEF GOAL: to overturn the pervasive believe that b/c women
were biologically different from men, they were intellectually
inferior, more emotional and better suited to domestic life than
to politics or careers.

Accomplishments
By 1980 most forms of dejure segregation were
repealed
Equal Pay Act of 1963 made it illegal to offer different
rates of pay for men and women
Addition of gender to Civil Rights Act (1968)
Supreme Court Cases:
- Griswald v. CT outlawed Comstock laws
- Roe v. Wade forbid laws restricting abortion rights
*Both based on an interpretation of the Constitution
protecting privacy rights

Drawbacks
Due to anti-ERA protests largely
led by anti-feminist Phyllis
Schlafly, ratification of the ERA
fell short by 3 states, though it
passed in both the House and
Senate
NOW criticized as being too
white, too middle class and too
heterosexual (did not take a
stance on homophobia or gay
rights issues)

2012 Education, Employment and Politics Statistics

51% of population
60% of undergrad and grad degrees
48% of medical and law degrees

YET

14% of executive officers

8% of top earners
4% of Fortune 500 CEOs
less than 15% of exec officers in financial, healthcare industries, and among
equity partners in business

Control 80% of consumer spending but are only 3% of creative directors in

advertising

18% Congress
24% State legislature
10% Governors