Women's Rights Ever since the 1700's, women have been looking for rights equal to those of men. They've waited for rights through the Civil War, WWI & WWII. During the Civil Rights movement, women saw the opportunity to look for equal rights. If every person got their rights, women should get them too, right? But, some people didn't like women's empowerment. And sadly, some of those people were women themselves! They thought women should just have children, cook, and clean. Basically be your typical 1950's surburban mother. But, some women wanted to get rights and be treated equally. These women, such as Betty Friedan joined the National Organization for Women, who actually founded it, and marched for their rights too. Women of all ages and races marched hand in hand for rights. On the other hand some women such as Phyllis Schlafly were traditionalists and marched to stop the Equal Rights Amendment, and emphasized the differences between men a women. Although, women had the right to vote because of the 19th amendment in 1920, they still were viewed as unequal to men by most of society. Also, the influence of the 1950s collided with the feminists, such as women trying to get empowered, but people who thought they should be home, cooking an having kids, was keeping them down. Empowerment to women wasn't all just in the right to vote, but in the way people saw women, as equals, or otherwise.
Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade was a key component to the Women's Liberation Movement. Roe v. Wade was a case regarding abortion and how the laws barring it were a violation of privacy, thus the United States Constitution. The case, although allowing abortion (and changing laws in 46 states), the decision was that after the fetus became 'viable' it could not be aborted, meaning if it could live on its own, but with artificial aid to help it. Even up to today the issue of abortion is a hot-topic for debate between pro-life (anti-Roe) and pro-choice (pro-Roe) supporters.
Doe v. Bolton
The case of Doe v. Bolton was another case about abortion that made it all the way to the United States Supreme Court. It over-turned a Georgia law and made it so a woman can have an abortion at anytime during her pregnancy, as long as the birth of the fetus would effect the mother's health, if the baby would have a severe birth defect, or if the pregnancy was caused by rape. Although, the fact that a 'medical professional' had to sign something that said the pregnancy would indeed cause harm to the woman's health, or relating to her health. The court's decision of this case came out exactly the same day as Roe vs. Wade's decision was released. These cases go hand in hand on the way they helped women stay in charge of their own bodies, rather than people telling them what to do, thus empowering them.
Betty Friedan
Betty Friedan was basically the woman responsible for the "second wave of the Women's Movement". She wrote 'The Feminine Mystique' in 1963, which is a book about how the 1950's were almost a back-step for women's rights. The 1950's played up the gender roles and accentuated that women were not supposed to work, but stay at home, pop out babies every few years, and serve their husbands. This book had a huge response from women (and some men) from the middle class and started the forming of a few women's organizations. One of these organizations was founded in the most part by Betty herself, the National Organization for women in 1966. She also organized a strike for the Women's Strike for Equality on the 50th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which was a large, nation-wide event. In the early 1970's, she also started the National Organization for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, and after abortion was legalized in 1973, it became the National Abortion Rights Action League.
Phyllis Schlafy
Phyllis Schlafly was almost the exact opposite of Betty Friedan. Phyllis was a traditionalist, while Friedan was a feminist, and she believed that the Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA would actually hurt women by taking away their privileges. These 'privileges' included "dependent wife" benefits from Social Security and exemption from Selective Service registration. She also campaigned that the ERA would lead to unisex bathrooms and women in the military. The ERA came very close to being made into a constitutional amendment, being ratified in 35 of the necessary 38 states. She has also written a book, 'A Choice is Not an Echo'. Phyllis has been accused by many feminists of being a hypocrite, seeing as she is a lawyer, editor of a monthly newsletter, and political activist. Phyllis Schlafly is also a conservative, and even up to present times, speaks out in opposition to many decisions made by the United States government. She was also against integration during the Civil Rights movement, and has been called a racist for it.
Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade was a key component to the Women's Liberation Movement. Roe v. Wade was a case regarding abortion and how the laws barring it were a violation of privacy, thus the United States Constitution. The case, although allowing abortion (and changing laws in 46 states), the decision was that after the fetus became 'viable' it could not be aborted, meaning if it could live on its own, but with artificial aid to help it. Even up to today the issue of abortion is a hot-topic for debate between pro-life (anti-Roe) and pro-choice (pro-Roe) supporters.Doe v. Bolton
The case of Doe v. Bolton was another case about abortion that made it all the way to the United States Supreme Court. It over-turned a Georgia law and made it so a woman can have an abortion at anytime during her pregnancy, as long as the birth of the fetus would effect the mother's health, if the baby would have a severe birth defect, or if the pregnancy was caused by rape. Although, the fact that a 'medical professional' had to sign something that said the pregnancy would indeed cause harm to the woman's health, or relating to her health. The court's decision of this case came out exactly the same day as Roe vs. Wade's decision was released. These cases go hand in hand on the way they helped women stay in charge of their own bodies, rather than people telling them what to do, thus empowering them.Betty Friedan
Betty Friedan was basically the woman responsible for the "second wave of the Women's Movement". She wrote 'The Feminine Mystique' in 1963, which is a book about how the 1950's were almost a back-step for women's rights. The 1950's played up the gender roles and accentuated that women were not supposed to work, but stay at home, pop out babies every few years, and serve their husbands. This book had a huge response from women (and some men) from the middle class and started the forming of a few women's organizations. One of these organizations was founded in the most part by Betty herself, the National Organization for women in 1966. She also organized a strike for the Women's Strike for Equality on the 50th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which was a large, nation-wide event. In the early 1970's, she also started the National Organization for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, and after abortion was legalized in 1973, it became the National Abortion Rights Action League.Phyllis Schlafy
Phyllis Schlafly was almost the exact opposite of Betty Friedan. Phyllis was a traditionalist, while Friedan was a feminist, and she believed