The Women's Movement In the 1960's

Introduction

Imagine yourself as a woman in the 1960s. They are denied basic rights, trapped in the home for life, and discriminated against in the workplace. Then the 1960s came along with it, the thought that women could have a say in their government, that they could perhaps leave home without feeling guilty about leaving their children alone, and that they could receive a job and earn wages just like men.

The Women's Movement in the 1960's

The women's liberation movement of the 1960s helped all these changes to come about, through its record number of policies and radical ways. Most women feminists were radicals. They formed groups, which researched to find the root of the problem and put and end to the barriers of segregation and discrimination based on sex. Women feminists were committed to the study the situation of women, instead of just taking action. In this movement women would have to see the fight of women as their own, not as something to help ?other women? and that they would have to see the truth about their own lives before they would fight in a radical way for anyone.

Women were denied basic rights in most aspects of society from political rights to reproductive rights; women in the U.S. fought vigorously for equality. Women fought for their right not to symbolize ?beauty objects? or ?sex objects.? In 1968, 100 women protested the Miss America Beauty Pageant. They were protesting because the pageant promoted ?physical attractiveness and charm as the primary measures of a women?s worth.? Since the media displayed beauty as the only way for happiness, the idea that women?s only importance was for their bodies became more widespread. With the Miss America protest and the Freedom Trash can protest; women claimed national attention towards their struggle. Also with the 1960s Civil Rights movement that was going on, it seemed just right for women to speak out.

Women also fought for abortion and reproductive rights. Women could only receive a prescription for birth control if she was married or a bride-to-be with a set date and having announced it. So girls who did not rush into marriage saw no reason why they should not have a sex life of their own during their early adult years. This question has always been up for debate. If the pills are wanted then they should be available, primarily by girls who intend to use them. However once a boy and a girl enter into an engagement there is always a chance they will go to bed together, with or with out the pill. The fact is that a good proportion of people, girls no less then boys, see nothing shameful or immoral about premarital sex.

One woman stated that, ?Abortion and preventative birth control methods are denied us unless we are of a certain age or married or perhaps they are denied us completely. Hospital committees decide whether or not we can have our tubes tied, unless our uterus has ?done ...