FREE Was The Women's Liberation Movement Radical? Essay (original) (raw)

Debate: Was the Women's Liberation Movement Radical?.
During the 1960's and 1970's many groups in the United States found themselves protesting for their rights. The Constitution and Bill of Rights had been written nearly two hundred years before, yet some people still felt their rights were not being protected in the greatest democratic country in the world. These protesting groups included African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, homosexuals, and women. To figure out if the women's liberation movement was a radical one, we should first look at the definition of radical. The American Heritage dictionary defines radical as "Advocating fundamental or revolutionary changes." According to this definition the women's liberation movement was indeed a radical one.
The women's movement was primarily pushed by young educated women who found it difficult to go to a life as housewife after attending college. One of the ways they promoted these revolutionary ideas through their involvement in equal rights groups. Perhaps one of the most influential political groups that is still working today is the National Organization for Women ( NOW). This group was started, "to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all the privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men." This group along with many other women not associated with the NOW organization called for and won many revolutionary political and social battles. Some of these accomplishments included Title IX of the Higher Education Act and the Supreme Court decision in the Roe v. Wade battle which ruled, "that women had the right to choose abortion in the early stages of pregnancy." This is still a highly controversial ruling to this day. .
The largest battle that women had to face was equality in the workplace. Jobs were classified as "women's" or "men's," women received the lower pay jobs, and unemployment rates among women were much higher than men.

1. Women's Liberation Movement

Other reasons for protests included the women's liberation, gay liberation, and the environmental movement. ... The Women's Liberation Movement (WLM) exploded into existence in the late 1960's in America after a period of relative inactivity in feminism during the 1950's. It was a movement', not an organization and consisted of numerous women's groups, all campaigning for different feminist goals. ... The three main trends within the WLM were socialist feminism, liberal feminism and radical feminism; each saw women's problems in a different light and stresse...

2. Civil Rights and Women's Liberation

This movement's success inspired many other social movements, including the Women's Liberation Movement. ... It will be discussed that the Civil Rights Movement influenced the Women's Liberation Movement in four key ways. ... The Civil Rights Movement also acted as a training ground for the eventual participants in the women's liberation movement. ... The women in SNCC served as an important link between the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Liberation Movement. ... Links between the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Liberation Movement attracted women...

3. The History of Feminism

The second-wave movement was stated more through the radical and revolutionary sight. It followed the demands of the WLM (Women's Liberation Movement ). ... The second-wave feminism movement still exists until our days. ... But this is not the way, the third movement wanted to go, so instead they fought for an equality of rights among every single women. The third movement started in 1990s. ...

4. The Gay Liberation Movement from 1860 to 1971

Table of Contents Part I: Introduction 3 Part II: The Gay Rights Movement in the US from 1860-1969 1. 1860-1935: "The Movement that did not exist- 4 2. 1950-1969: "The Three Major Groups and Their Aims and Criticisms- 2.1 Mattachine Society 6 2.2 One, Inc. 8 2.3 Daughters of Bilitis 9 Part III: The Stonewall Riots in 1969 11 Part IV: The Gay Liberation Front 13 4.1 Carl Wittman's "A Gay Manifesto- 14 Part ...

5. Revolution and Women's Rights

Her task was that of women's liberation in Russia. ... The revolution movement was in full support of a working class movement. ... Although, women's liberation took a backseat to World War in 1917, the time had come for revolution in Russia. ... Lenin was in support of radical change, not reform of any kind. ... Her involvement in this party and revolution facilitated the achievement of liberation among women in Russia. ...

6. feminism

(LeGates 501) One of the first women rights further were the women who participated in the movement to abolish slavery. ... Women argued for respect for themselves. ... Between the suffrage movement and the women's liberation movement the feminist issue was the Equal Rights Amendment. ... Feminism " in all its manifestations is radical in that it seeks to redefine the basic human relationships between the sexes and to redistribute power and other social goods." ... The younger branches issue was weather the women's liberation movement should remain a branch of the ra...

7. The Dawn of Women In Rock

The huge movement for women's right in the late 1960s was attributed to the growing number of women to the genre of rock music. Before such a movement happened, life for women was not at all like how most people know it today. ... The popularity of NOW led to the rise of other feminist groups, some so extremely radical that they would call for nothing less than the defeat of the entire male populace. ... (Hirshey: 73-4) The movement for women's liberation also brought openness to the public. ... It was thought to be a good theory to many, stressed out by the racial and social liber...

8. Margaret Sanger And The New Era Of Women

But in today's society overpopulation is not a problem due to the wonderful birth-control movement of Margaret Sanger. ... Not only did she bring forth the American birth-control movement, but this also led to women being able to smoke, drink, dance, wear seductive clothes and makeup, and attend lively parties. ... Primarily it is the instrument of liberation and human development." ... Birth control is one of the most important things that led to the liberation of women everywhere. ... By word and by deed, she pioneered the most radical, humane and transforming political movement of ...

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