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CHANGING POSITION OF WOMEN, 1917-80 - Coggle Diagram
CHANGING POSITION OF WOMEN, 1917-80
SOCIAL
1920s
Domestic position of women improved:
- New labour-saving devices.
- Only accessible to upper class women though.
- Average homemaker still spend 50hours on household tasks weekly.
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1950s
The growth of suburbia, which was reinforced as embodying the American dream in the media. It restricted women to the home, and reinforced their traditional roles.
1960s-onwards
Some conservatives still believed that the women's place was the home, and by the 1970s, 2/3 of female college students thought this idea was nonsense.
WW2
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Attitudes towards women's capacities/abilities changed- 10% working women worked in defence plants constructing planes, tanks, and ships. This caused many women to feel empowered.
In places, attitudes were slow to change: employers were still reluctant to train women for skilled jobs as they only saw them as temporary workers during WW2.
After the war, many women lost their jobs. They either left due to social pressure, or because federal daycare centres closed down so they were forced to quit to look after children.
ECONOMIC
1920s
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Non-white women generally had low paid, low status jobs.
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1930s
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New deal: as a rule, men came first in ND agencies. Eleanor Roosevelt pushed for similar agencies to be set up just for women. In 1936, there were 36 work camps for women similar to the CCC.
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WW2
More women entered paid employment due to the high demand for labour, but they were still paid lower wages.
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1950s
Women still remained economically inferior; it was difficult for them to obtain qualifications for well-paid jobs
Some schools/colleges excluded women. In 1950, there were 1.56million men in higher education, but only 700,000 women.
Slowly, attitudes did begin to change and the number of women in employment rose.
1960s-onwards
Women now expected to work most of their lives, like men. Clearly shows attitudes have changed. But, they were only paid 62% of men's wages.
More women worked, but they were usually low paid jobs.
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Unequal employment opportunities. Women made up:
- 10% of principles but 80% of teachers.
- 7% of doctors.
- 3% of lawyers.
POLITICAL
1920s
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19th Amendment passed, which gave women the vote in federal elections.
Women made up 1/2 of the US population, but were severely underrepresented in politics.
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1930s
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Women played a more important role in govt. For example, Frances Perkins was the first female cabinet member (1933-45).
1950s
1957: FDA approves the birth control pill, but only for severe menstrual issues, not contraception.
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THE EMERGENCE OF THE WOMEN'S LIBERATION MOVEMENT, ITS ACHIEVEMENTS AND LIMITS TO ADVANCEMENT, 1961-80
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