20th Century Women

Daughters of Bilitis

Was the first civil rights group for lesbians. Founded in San Francisco in 1955. Served as an organization that accepted lesbians and helped them to find their gender identity. Told them that regardless of being femme or butch they were still women. Helped pave the road for future gay rights.

radical feminism

A branch of feminism that focuses on ways to overcome the male domination and patriarchy in society. There have been many radical manifestos published that push women away from men in order to overcome their oppression.

Liberal Feminism

A branch of feminism that focuses on women's ability to maintain equality through their own actions and choices.

Immediate Blood-kin picture

A chart used in the 1927 Carrie Buck Case. Buck was accused of being feeble-minded and was sentenced to forced sterilization as to not spread this negative trait. The trait itself was mostly a fallacy and used to control who was able to reproduce.

Barbara Burns

A coal miner in West Virginia that experienced a lot of sexual harassment. She didn't let it get to her. She pressed charges against her boss and eventually won. She managed to encourage her peers and other women in the work force to push forwards their sexual harassment cases.

Consciousness-raising

A form of activism feminists used to engage a broader group of people onto a topic. This became popular in the late 60's, most notably with the Boston Women's Book Collective.

Little Rock Nine

A group of 9 African Americans were to be able to attend the previously all-white Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Elizabeth Eckford was among them. There was a largely negative response until the president sent in the national guard to secure the students. This was the frist time that blacks and whites attened the same school. At the end it was a success and helped to abolish the discrimination of schools

The Kitchen Debate

1959 debate with Khrushchev and Nixon showing the superiority of capitalism. Showcased all the fancy technology used in kitchen to makes the lives of wives easier. Made women out to be attached to the kitchen and emphasized the idea of a nuclear family.

Girls say yes to boys who say no picture

A anti-propaganda poster during Vietnam. The Picture depicts women that would want to be with men that did not sign the draft to be shipped to war. Showed the counter-culture opposed to the war. This also objectified women and used them as a means to stop men from going to war, the opposite of how they were used in WWII.

Betty Jean Owens

A black woman that was raped by four white men in 1959. The men were taken to court and sentenced to life in prison. This was greatly significant because for the first time white men were held at full charges for a crime that they committed against a black woman.

Our Bodies, Ourselves

A book published originally by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective in 1969. It is a collection of important information regarding women's health. This book represented the first time this type of information was mde available to every woman in the country, and has been edited and revised many times over the years. This represented a great advancement in the knowledge women were able to receive about their own bodies, that had been denied to them previously.

Students for a Democratic Society

A movement that was against all forms of discrimination in the country and fought for peace. Were strongly against the war in Vietnam. Showed a change int he viewpoints of many Americans during the mid 60's and early 70's many wanted peace and equality, though often times fell to corruption.

Tonight you're mine completely You give you love so sweetly Tonight the light of love is in your eyes But will you love me tomorrow? Is this a lasting treasure Or just a moment's pleasure? Can I believe the magic of your sighs? Will you still love me tomorrow? --The Shirelles, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?"

A top song in the 60's about a one night stand. Shows how sex has become something that is actually able to be talked about. The song also shows the woman as submissive and in control of the man that she slept with. She hopes that he will still be there to care for her when the sun comes up. Otherwise she will be left alone.

Anita Hill

Accused Clarence Thomas in 1991 of sexual harassment. Thomas wasn't found guilty. This still caused a massive wave in the department of sexual harassment at the workplace. Was the catalyst to allowing many more women join high ranking political offices

Combahee River Collective

Black feminist group formed in 1974. Was angry at white women for seeing oppression only in the terms of gender, and not also race. Created the term "Womanism" which refers mainly to black-feminism and third-world feminism. Strengthen the feminist movement by making it more about equality across the board and not just for white middle-class females

"race" women

Black women that were proud of their race and helped support them. Took away from the fight for equality and was criticized by other civil rights groups such as the blues women.

The Second Shift

Book about middle class women with both parents working. In the 70's and 80's women were starting to more commonly join the workforce. Afterwork they would have to come home and then begin their "second shift" of taking care of the family.

"Behind this celebration of the American woman's victory, behind the news, cheerfully and endlessly repeated, that the struggle for women's rights is won, another message flashes. You may be free and equal now, it says to women, but you have never been more miserable... The women's movement, as we are told time and again, has proved women's own worst enemy." -- Susan Faludi

Faludi uses this quote within her paper, "The Backlash Against Feminism," to show how the media is corrupting the idea of gender equality. She states that everywhere you look there are signs saying that women are experiencing nothing but suffering now that they have more freedom. Faludi uses this signs to push her argument that the fight for equal rights is far from over, and must not be pushed to the side. This still carries with it significance, as many people just assume that complete equality has been achieved, and not longer feel the need to fight for it.

Jessie Daniel Ames

Female civil rights activist from texas. She was one of the first Whites to publicly speak out against lynching of blacks in the united states. This marks a time when White people began to side with blacks in order to attempt to stop racism.

Emma Goldman

Feminist and Anarchist from the late 1890's to early 1900's. Shared her radical feminist ideas on love and marriage. Believed that marriage was nothing but a prison for women and that one could love many.

"I sat on the grass and listened to the speakers to discover we had 'dreamers' instead of leaders leading us. Just about every one of them stood up there dreaming. Martin Luther King went on and on talking about his dream. I sat there thinking that in Canton we never had time to sleep, much less dream." -- Anne Moody

From Anne Moody's coming of age in america. This quote represents her take on the civil rights movements during the 60's. She shows her annoyance with how many of the civil rights leaders talk about dreams and how they would have things rather than actually physically doing them. She shows that many African Americans are busy working and trying simply to live their lives, and don't have time to even think about equality.

"Jane"

Illegal abortion service that ran from 1969 to 1973. This was one of the only ways that women were able to recieve safe and cared for abortions. Was a community for women to learn about abortions and their Feminine health. Over the few years more than 1000 successful abortions.

"We see thousands of girls walking up and down the streets on a pleasant evening with no chance to catch a sight of pleasure even through a lighted window, save as these lurid places provide it. Apparently the modern city sees in these girls only two possibilities, both of them commercial: first, a chance to utilize by day their new and tender labor power in its factories and shops, and then another chance in the evening to extract from them their petty wages by pandering to their love of pleasure." -- Jane Addams, "The Spirit of Youth and the City Streets"

In 1909 Addams writes about the lifestyle of women that are able to work. She shows how they spend all day working very hard for little pay, then when they are done working are pressured into spending their hard earned money on. She shows how the city utilizes the new workings of women and exploits them for more money. They are still only seen in very simple terms. The thought of women working just to waste away their money on luxuries comes up several times throughout the class, and even has relevance today.

Zines

Magazines created by the riot grrrls of the 90's. They were used to spread manifestos and artworks that represented the feelings and beliefs of women. Lead to the modern day blogs and internet articles that circulate around the web.

WKKK

Many women gained new political freedom in the 1920s and several used it to join the KKK. This showed how strong racial discrimination was during this time.

"As soon as we got settled my father asked, 'Do you still want to go to college?' I said, 'Of course I do.' I told him it had been my dream, and now the dream was shattered and gone. He said, 'I heard there are some church groups that are working to let some of the students out of the camps to go to colleges in the Midwest and in areas where people would feel that they would not be endangered by you.' I said, 'Endangered? What do you mean?' 'They think you might be the enemy, because you look like the enemy.' " -- Masaye Nakamura's Personal Story

Nakamura shares her story of what it was like to be a Japanese American during WWII. The entire country seemed to be against all Japanese due to the obmbing in Pearl Harbor and sent many of them to labor camps. Nakamura still wanted to go to college, however. Her father shows the fear that Whites felt against Japanese and that this was the sole reason that they were treated so poorly. This focuses on the xenophobia of the time, and how a simple task such as going to school was made nearly impossible for anyone that was not a White American.

"Black is Beautiful" campaign

Part of the black power movement, encouraging African Americans to take pride in their roots and culture. Many started letting their hair out in Afros and wearing more traditional clothing. Showed that culture is an important way of life, and that blacks should not succumb to theirs being eliminated.

Title VII

Passed in 1964 to stop discrimination in the work place based on race, color, ethnicity, and gender.

"The personal is political"

Phrase used in the 60's to make the events that went on in the personal lives a political issue. This included healthcare, sexual assault, and what happened in the homes of women. This inspired women to get involve din politics and also made politicians aware of what was going on in the lives of women.

STOP-ERA

Phyllis Schalfly's campaign to put a stop to the equal rights amemdment. This shows how there are still some people that fight against equal rights for all. She actually made enough of a wake to stop the bill from passing, sending feminists back a large portion.

"The first requirement for the acquisition of power by the Positive Woman is to understand the differences between men and women. Your outlook on life, your faith, your behavior, your potential for fulfillment, all are determined by the parameters of your original premise. The Positive Woman starts with the assumption that the world is her oyster. She rejoices in the creative capability within her body and the power potential of her mind and spirit. She understands that men and women are different, and that those very differences provide the key to her success as a person and fulfillment as a woman." - Phyllis Schlafly

Phyllis Schlafly was an anti-feminist leader that founded the STOP-ERA in order to preserve the privileges that women had over men. She believed that women and men were separate entities that never could, nor should, strive to be truly equal. She saw women as having their own unique sets of talents that in their own ways were better than men's. In this quote she specifically targets the "Positive woman" that knows she is not on equal grounds as men, and uses this to her advantage. Schlafly's movement actually caused the US to not pass the ERA, and sent feminists movements back severely.

Roe v. Wade

Supreme court case in 1975. Jane Roe fought to make abortion legal. She won the case and abortion was legalized but only under a medical viewpoint. This left a lot of room for loopholes. This case as a whole, however, has lead to much improvements in the field of abortion.

riot grrrl

The Feminist movement in the mid 90's. Was fueled by the female punk movement and allowed women a new way to express themselves to the public. Gave women a chance to be themselves and a community to talk about how they felt on specific subjects. Was one of the first groups formed in Third Wave feminism.

momism

The idea in the 40's that an overbearing mother would emasculate her son and possibly turn him gay. This was a counter to women joining the work force, saying that was at least better than the alternative.

pronatalism

The idea that children were the key to happiness and a stable life. Is the cause of the baby boom of the postwar era. Supported the idea that women were meant to be mothers and raise a family.

"Sisterhood is Powerful"

The idea that women working together would help increase the power of the feminist movement. Continues to be an transpiration to feminists today and is the reason they have accomplished so much.

intersectionality

The intersections between the different forms of oppression. They are all the same for everyone and if you try to change one you must try to change them all. All of these forms of oppression shape to control people's lives. All shape to form the social hierarchies that control our lives. Many individuals can be simultaneously advantaged and disadvantaged

SNCC

The student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. A student-led democratic political organization that focused on bringing equality among students. Encouraged female leadership. Served as a movement for the more common people. in contrast to MLK's civil rights.

butch

The term used to describe a lesbian that exhibits strong masculine characteristics. They would dress up and act more so like men. Men saw them as dangerous in that they could replace males in various aspects of life. The term is still used to this day, and is sometimes seen as derogatory.

Florence Thompson

This is a photograph of Florence Thompson and her children during the Great Depression. The picture shows the desperation Thompson faced in this trying time and greatly represents the struggles of the country as a whole. Thompson looks weathered and worn, and has a sense of loss on her face.

Baby born a female picture

This is a poster from the 70's that is rather hard hitting. It depicts a baby and states that it will forever be handicapped in life due to being born a female. This represents how females are by default at a disadvantage in the male dominated workplace. The poster is meant to bring attention to the discrimination of women in the work place, and to rally women to defend their womanpower and not let it be wasted.

"Women are an oppressed class. Our oppression is total, affecting every facet of our lives. We are exploited as sex objects, breeders, domestic servants, and cheap labor. We are considered inferior beings, whose only purpose is to enhance men's lives. Our humanity is denied." --Redstockings Manifesto

This is a quote from the radical feminist Redstockings Manifesto in 1969. This was one of the several radical feminist groups. They had an issue with men in general. They didn't base their issues on individual women so much as institutions as a whole. They believed that men and their oppressive ways were the reason women couldn't live fair lives, and that only men should have to change the way they live.

Excuse me picture

This is an example of a riot grrrl zine that was used to express how women truly felt. Here it shows that this woman does not care about what men think of her, and does not serve as a token of manipulation for men. She and her "girlfriends" are their own people and will do what they want with no fear of what men would think of them.

"the problem that has no name"

This is covered by Friedan in "The Feminine Mystique" it refers to the unhappiness and hollowness that many women were feeling in the 60's. There were tried of just being housewives but also felt bad about working. It wasn't until Friedan's book that women were able to come out and talk about this issue that had been plaguing them. It shows that many women were content with just being unhappy because they felt they were doing what they were supposed to.

"Above all else, our politics sprang from the shared belief that Black women are inherently valuable, that our liberation is a necessity not as an adjunct to somebody else's but because of our need as human persons for autonomy." -- Combahee River Collective Statement

This quote from the Combahee River Collective of 1974 shows their belief that the lives of black women are just as important as those of white women. They believed that oppression went further than just gender and also extended to race and ethnicity.

Its ok to peek picture

This was a poster popular during the Women's Health Movement of the 70's. it depicts a woman using a looking glass to give herself a gynecological exam. Before the movement, women knew very little about health or their biological makeup. This poster shows how women were now urged to learn about their own health, and how their bodies worked.

Anita Bryant

Woman extremely opposed to homosexuality.Briggs Initiative, California 1978. Shows how public anti-homo campaigns began.

Helen Gurley Brown

Wrote "Sex and the Single Girl" and article depicting how to properly be a single woman in a world where everyone is expected to get married and have a family. She says that single women must be atractive, smart, and have their own sense of style to succeed in the world. This article shows how in the 60's women were starting to be able to express themselves and live single lives, as men have always been able to do.