Summary
Highlights
Building on historical struggles for equality, women's rights gained momentum after World War II and the Black Civil Rights Movement. President Kennedy formed the Commission on the Status of Women, identifying widespread inequality. This led to legislation like the Equal Pay Act of 1963. The second wave of feminism, energized by Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique' in 1963 and the introduction of the birth control pill, advocated for women's greater participation in education and the workforce. The National Organization for Women (NOW) was formed to push for gender equality, including advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). However, conservative opposition led by Phyllis Schlafly's Stop ERA campaign ultimately prevented its ratification, arguing it threatened traditional women's roles and potential loss of benefits.
Some feminist groups, believing organizations like NOW weren't radical enough, sought to dismantle the patriarchy. They protested events like the Miss America pageant in 1968, viewing it as objectifying women. The broader feminist movement achieved a significant victory with the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973, which established a woman's right to abortion based on an implied right to privacy. This decision was later overturned in 2022, returning abortion regulation to individual states.
Americans of Latin descent also pursued greater civil rights. Mexican farmers in California, led by Cesar Chavez, organized under the National Farm Worker Association (NFWA) to fight for unionization and better wages. Their five-year strike against grape farmers gained national support through boycotts. Other groups, like the Chicanos, influenced by Malcolm X and the Black Panthers, adopted a more militant approach, forming the Brown Berets to advocate for cultural pride and self-defense.
The American Indian Movement (AIM) was formed in 1968 to address the marginalization, poverty, and loss of heritage experienced by American Indians, resulting from historical policies like the Indian Removal Act and the Dawes Act. AIM aimed to reclaim tribal traditions, achieve self-determination, and combat systemic poverty. A key event was the 1968 occupation of Alcatraz Island, a symbolic act that highlighted federal treaty obligations. This activism led to the Self-Determination Act of 1975, granting American Indians greater control over their lands, education, and law enforcement.
Asian Americans, led by figures like Emma Gee, argued that the national conversation on racial equality ignored their experiences with inequality, citing historical examples like the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese internment. Gee founded the Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA), popularizing the term 'Asian American' to foster unity among diverse Asian ethnic groups. The movement demanded an end to racial stereotyping, greater political representation, and the expansion of ethnic studies programs in colleges, notably participating in the 1968 San Francisco State Strike.
The LGBTQ+ community, facing social and political marginalization, sought recognition and protection of their civil rights. The Stonewall Uprising in June 1969, where patrons of a gay bar resisted a police raid, marked a turning point. This event spurred organized protests and inspired activists to encourage openness about identity and work towards ending discriminatory practices. The Gay Liberation Front was created to promote gay pride and advocate for equality, leading to the gradual decriminalization of homosexuality in many states.