Women, Politics, and American Society pg. 51-64 -- Reaction

Textbook Reading

Nancy E. McGlen, Karen O'Connor, Laura van Assendelft, Wendy Gunther-Canada

I had heard of EMILY's List before reading this, but only in passing, and I have to say that I really like the idea.  That people can choose who their money is going too, and after reading it I am tempted to join it in the future.  The success in the women's movements recently is encouraging, and it will be especially interesting to see what happens now that Obama is president and the Democrats continue to have the control of the Senate without having to battle with vetos from the president, hopefully.  

I still always feel inadequate when reading this book, I don't know enough about current events and I never have the time or spend the time to find out.  I know that the governor of my state, CT is a woman, Jodi Rell, but I don't know much about the rest of the government in either Connecticut or the US in general.  

I really think that the women parties should come together under just Women's Group or something like that so that they can pool their money and resources.  Then maybe they could stop fighting and competing with each other and actually get something big accomplished.  I would love to be part of that, I've always thought about trying to do politics, but not really focused on it.  

Women, Politics, and American Society pg. 51-64 -- Notes

Textbook Reading

Nancy E. McGlen, Karen O'Connor, Laura Assendelft, Wendy Gunther-Canada

ERA-The Third Stage (1979-1982)

-late 1979: NOW devotes to new national plan.

-1982: NOW receiving more than $1 mill a month for ERAA

-ERA missionaries went door to door in unratified states + pro-ERA entertainers on TV

-Amendment defeated in June 30, 1982

-1980 = Reagan + backlash against gains by women

The Aftermath of ERA ratification Effort

-NOW continued press for amendment

-Others worked on preservation of abortion rights or litigation to press courts for expanded constitutional rights for wmn

-Women working on encouraging wmn to run for politics, especially Deocrates

-1992 10 Dem wmn run for senate + got $1.5 from Wmn's Council of Dem Senatorial Campgn Committee

-Several more groups founded for electoral process

The National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC)

-founded in 1971: national grassroots organization dedicated to increasing # of fem wmn elected in gov

-Shirley Chisholm elected congress in 1968 from NY=first african american woman to run for pres.

-NWPC: publicizes womans issues at stake in elections, monitors women candidates + holds training sessions

-1976 Dem National Convention NWPC led move for written guarantee that women constitute 50% of delegates at 1980 convention

-Jimmy Carter agreed to appoint women in high positioning in administration if he elected

-1978 DNC passed resolution to require 50% of delegates wmn

-Coalition for Womn's appointments= reps from 70 wmns groups to identify qualified female candidates + forward resumes to white house

-Now called Wman's Appointment Project w/4 wmn from George W. Bush's cabinet

-NOW + NWPC working on promoting young women+women of color

-1999: election of Rosalyn O'Connell, rep pro-choice.

-2002:NWPC endorsed 52 women for congress, 2 for gov, and 2 for sec of state

-2003 convention in DC entitled "Strong Women For Tough Times"

The Feminist Majority Foundation

-create by Peg Yorkin in 1987 + Eleanor Smeal, former pres of NOW

-Nationwide campaigns for more wmn running for office

-source of Feminist news around the world

The League of Women Voters

-citizens group not womans organization

-endorsed ERA in 1970's + true fem action in 1990

-work with MTV to get minorities + 18-24 year olds to vote 

-Many wmn stay home in 1994 leading to efforts behind Motor Voter Law

-goal of 85% registration

-2000 election problems in FL lead to LWV champion election reform

-Abolition of electoral college as "archaic and unnecessary"

The American Association of University Women

-formed in 1881 to help wmn find jobs and network in business

-After 1994 elected conservative rep-controlled Congress, got more involved in politics

-AAUW Voter Education Campaign in Jul 1995

-New letter of emails + fax combined with get-out-the-vote effort

-Lobbies congress for wmns rights: congressional outlook highlights reproductive choice, civil rights, economic security, expanded educational opportunity

National Organization for Women

-After ERA focus on influencing men in power and electing wmn to replace them

-largest feminist org w/ 500,00 members, more than 550 chapters, all 50 states

-still dedicated to ERA

Women's PACs

-1974 finance laws made orgs able to create political action committees

-Women's Campaign Funds in 1974 only for women, most for both

-1980s=lotsa womens pacs but most = small + underfunded

-1989, 33 PACs gave money primarily to women

-1992: 12 new PACs + lots more money to all.  

-PACs together raised about $12 mil

NOW/PAC and NOW Equality PAC

-1977: NOW creates 2 PACs. NOW/PAC supports candidates for national elections, NOW Equality PAC supports at state and local levels

-Contributed to lots of candidates including Cynthia McKinney and Carol Mosley-Braun

-"Victory 2000- The Feminization of Politics" : elect 2000 feminists candidates by 2000

EMILY's List

-Largest of women's PACs "Early Money is like Yeast-It Makes the Dough Rise"

-founded in 1985 for viable, pro-choice Dem wmn running for congress or gov

-Create list of female candidates and members can write check to woman of their choice 

-worked for lots of women for 1990 in 1989

- provides training for candidates

-1996 tried to mobilize wmns vote

-2000 worked with wmn candidates and educating voters

-Supported Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan

-Nov 2002 helped elect MI's first wmn gov, Jennifer Granholm

-Helped elect 7 govs, 11 senators, +55 hous res all women since founding

The WISH List

-Women in the Senate and House: 1992

-Supports Rep pro-choice women

-2002= $765,000 to over 200 repub wmn candidates, most of whom won

Conclusion

-1992= "year of the woman"

Women, Politics, and American Society pg. 40-51 -- Reaction

Textbook Reading

Nancy E. McGlen , Karen O'Conor, Laura van Assendelft, Wendy Gunther-Canada

Reading about the motion behind the ERA is really inspiring.  As an idea i sounds wonderful, complete equality among the sexes.  However, unfortunately, there are biological differences among the sexes which makes this amendment somewhat questionable.  For one thing, although there is an argument for paternity leave, fathers aren't pregnant for 9 months or recovering for a time after that.  This is the biggest problem, I think child care can be shared between the two parents, but only the mother can be actually pregnant.  Making a special maternity leave law would technically be against the ERA if it based, or so I understand.

It's a hard decision, much less clear then whether women can have the right to vote or not, and it's actually threatening to women.  If women didn't want to vote, it didn't want to them whether they had suffrage or not.  However, the ERA would directly effect many women.  Reading through the various mistakes they made, not having a specific organization or one place, going at the national level for state by state ratification and such, it makes me wonder what would happen if the ERA were introduced under better planning.   Would we actually pass it this time?

I was also happy to read about Daniel Anthony, Susan B. Anthony's nephew, fighting for women's rights.  It's nice to think that her family didn't think she was crazy and embarrassing, or at least her nephew didn't.  

Some of the things Phyllis Schlafly said in STOP ERA also rung a chord in me, the fact that three out of ten of her reasons against it were to do with homosexuals.  Again, this is another element that might be changed now, what with such  a stronger gay population now then in the early 1980's.

Women, Politics, and American Society pg. 40-51 -- Notes

Textbook Reading

Nancy E. McGlen, Karen O'Connor, Laura van Assendelft, Wendy Gunther-Canada

Suffrage Not Enough - The Beginning of the End

-Anothony Amendment not appease desire of NWP for full equality

-Once suffrage secured, base of mvement disintegrated

-National League of Women Voters formed in 1919 in spite.

-Nothing for women to rally around now

Women's Joint Congressional Committee

-Formed in late 1920

-Membership of 10 mil

-Controversy over goals

The NWP and the ERA

-1st in Congress 12/1923 by Daniel Anthony

- Militant feminists: NWP leaders, worked for equality only

-Social Feminists looked for peace, birth control + social reform

-National Consumers' League against ERA because negate all protective labor legislation

-1940 Rep Party has support of ERA on platform

-Congress has ERA every session between 1923-1971, passed in 1950 and 1953 saying protective legislature not to be affected

Drive for Women's Political Rights

-Everyone shared goal of greater representation

-"silken curtain of prejudice" - a NOW letter

-1967 political equalities different from those in suffrage + woman's movement

-wmn already enjoy most basic rights, old branches devoted to economic, educational + social improvement

-younger branch think political system corrupt or can't work through it

-younger branch argued oppression/discrimination against womn end when supproting structures abolished, patriarical, social, political + capitalist economics must be overthrown

-activist work at local level in rape centers, battered wmns shelters + health clinics

-writers want unity between theory and practice

-some want reform through court system, like Betty Friedan: liberal feminists

-Other wmn see society=misogynistic

-examined how heterosexuality + patriarchy oppress women

-revolution called for by socialists, communists + New Politicians

-all agreed changes had to be had

The Presidents Commission on the Status of Women and NOW

-1961: JFK created Presidents Commission on Status of Wmn when he appointed few major female political leaders.  commission headed by former 1st lady Eleanor Roosevelt

-June 1963: American Woman calls for increased appointment of wmn in important political positions

-NOW endorses ERA in 1967, some people resign in protect because it could negate protective labor legislation

-Most who testified in May 1970 senate meeting spoke against amendment

-1970: Citizens Advisory Council on Status of Wmn told Pres Nixon that amendment = necessary

-Senate votes for ERA 84 to 8 on March 22, 1972

The Ratification Effort

-Controversy of ERA affecting family relations, divorce, child support an alimony

-Supreme Court ruled down most protective legislation under Civil Rights Act of 1964 which brought many socialist feminists to the ERA

-March 1972-January 1973, 28 states ratified, few in the South

- No spokesperson for the movement, no head group, few state affiliates

ERA-The First Stage (1972-1977)

-NOW, LWV, + National Federation of Businees + Professional Wmn's Clubs )BPW all working

-Only 5 states ratified ERA afer 193

-BPW suggest wmns rights groups ban together + funded its members to make ERAmerica in Jan 1976, relatively poor and powerless

- 3 groups struggle against each other

ERA-The Second Stage (1977-1979)

-1977: NOW's new tactic make them leading proponent of ERA: boycott of states that hadn't ratified

-Impending deadline for all ratification = March 1979 and lobbied for another 7 years, got 39 months.

-All strategies=national even though they needed state ratification

-Phyllis Schlafly organized STOP ERA early as 1967

-Arguments: coed private schools, coed sports teams, same income tax regardless of income, abortions=gov funded, homosexuals=schools teachers, women forced to combat, men refuse to support wives, womans right to home + support of children = denied, homosexual marriages=legal, homosexuals allowed to adopt children

-Also, legalize unisex toilets + pornography

Women, Politics, and American Society, pg. 19-40 -- Reaction

Textbook Reading

Nancy E. McGlen, Karen O'Connor, Laura van Assendelft, Wendy Gunther-Canada



What stood out to me the most was actually near the end of our reading assignment, that New England and the South were the last two areas opposing women's suffarge strongly. Coming from New England, I was surprised since it's always seemed to me to be a very liberal place in general. However, it did make sense when I continued reading and realized that they opposed suffrage mostly because of the economy and what women's rights would ahve done to it.

I always find it interesting to read up on the history of suffrage, and because each time I do it I learn a little more it means that the things I originally learned are engraved into my mind. For example, I have known the date of the Seneca Falls Convention since about fourth grade, as well as the names of Susan B. Anothony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. But putting them in perspective with what I know now and what I'm reading about them always makes for interesting relevations. I'd like to believe that Stanton and Anthony used their racist platform just as that, a platform, but I'm still never sure. It strikes a nerve in me that they would ever for that at all. Fighting for equal rights means just that, equal rights. Fighting for women's rights by pushing down and scrambling on top of other groups is just as bad as not having them, if not worse.

The connection between the women's movement and the prohibition movement also struck me, that the first thing women ever did politically independent of men was eliminate alcohol, maybe they did have something to fear afterall. Like what is generally stated therough out any equal rights movement is tht it worked the best when all the different factions came together, the liberal women working with the conservative women. That is what finally got it passed. In this day and age there are so many sides to so many different issues, that it seems almost impossible that we'll evr be able to unite behind one solid cause ever again.

There is something to be said that it got done once though. Unfortunately, there was a lot of compromising, "conservatizing" the ideas so that Southern women would feel more comfortable, which meant excluding several black women. I strongly oppose this, excluding any type of person, but I do understand the need for compromise, and only after that happened did the amendment go anywhere.

This article, or reading assignment, makes me want to look up the British Suffrage movement even more, and compare the various international suffrage movements to the American one. To see whether the more militant nature was more successful or whether there was another approahc all together would be extremely interesting.

Women, Politics, and American Society, pg. 19-40 -- Notes

Textbook Reading, Nancy E McGlen, Karen O'Connor, Laure can Assendelft, Wendy Gunther-Canada

-1875: Sumpreme Court confirmed American wmn = citizrns, but citizenship not include suffrade.
-wmn=big strides in politics, cultural and social attitudes still bock
- 13.7% of 108th congress=wmn
-wmn's mvement success depends on public perception of rights sought.
-suffrage won from emphasizing potential benefits to society.
-no strong countermovements to suggrade because it wasn't thought of as a threat
-nature + implications of political rights sought + probablitity of victory = critical
-Seneca Falls Convention: 1848
-Constitutional ammendent in 1920
-ERA, equal rights ammendment, defeated in 1982
-1998: meeting on 150th anniversary of Seneca Falls

The Woman's Rights Movement and the Ballot
-Seneca Falls Convetion:securing greater economic +social rights, didn't all want to put on right to vote.
-Wmn's leaders saw issues of slavery similar to womn's rights
-Calls for controcersial changes in wmns status linked to wmns rights which hurt their success
-New Jersey Constitution of 1775 let all inhabitant worth "50 pounds a year" the right to vote
-Before Civil War wmn's rights inside abolitionists
-Created petition campaigns: w/signatures of men +wmn supporting specific issue
- National Women's Loyal League worked to end slavery
-1866 American Anti-Slavery Society reject appeals for wmn's rights + wmn formed new group: American Equal Rights Association (AERA)

The Civil WAr Amendments
-AERA abandoned wmn too in supprting 14th amendent "Now is the Negro's hour"
-14th amendent=1st time word male is in constitution possibly making another amendment necessary before wmn can vote.
-Wmn fought hard for including the word sex in the 15th amendment
-15th amendement make wmn realize that the movement needed to be national not state by state

New Groups Founded
-NWSA in 1869 by Stanton and Anthony in reaction to 15th amendment + abandoning AERA
-Fought for wmn in all spheres of life
-Lucy Stone: AWSA -> state by state route
-NWSA more informal + on national level = less support structure
-Many wmn didn't want the right to vote
-Reached out to wmn who worked with the abolitionists/belonged to NWLL
-Trying to attract more conservative wmn = NWSA toning down liberalism, focusing on suffrage

Woman Suffrage and the Fourteenth Amendment
-NWSA tried to "conservatise"
-Francis Minor wrote about wmns rights under 24th amendment in 1869
-The Revolution = nwespaper from Anthony + Stanton
-January 1871: Victoria Woodhull made presentation to Congress on opening day of NWSA's convention
-Advocated free love
-NWSA worked w/Woodhull some, damaged image, associated NWSA w/ free love
-AWSA fought hard against it, knowing links between them and more radical ideas = damaging
- Francis Minor urged test cases for wmn's rights, supported by Salmon Portland Chase (chief justice)
-NWSA not actually expect good court ruling + bad court ruling could damage cause
-1875 Minor v. Happersett only one of three major test cases given full hearing by Supreme Court. Sued St. Louis voter registrar when he refused her the right to register
-Defeated in Missouri courts, appealed to Supreme Court where defeated unanimously
-Maintained suffrage was not a right of citisenship

Toward a Constitutional Amendment
-1868-1875 = many attempts for female suffrage amendment
-Used strategy of education + agitation, William Lloyd Garrision "one must first changes ideas"
- July 4, 1876 @ US Centennial Celebration in philly, Anthony lead group of wmn to upper platform + gave chair of event a wmns rights declaration, then left while handing our copies. Stood and read declaration out side in Independence Square

Antisuffrage Movement
-"Bible counseled the exclusion of women from politics" : especially Genesis + writings of St. Paul
-wmn's natural roles = wife + mother, changing this would destroy society
-John Lockes ideas of male head of household representing whole family, if wmn had rights it would pitch wife against husband -> destruction of family
-CAtherine Beecher against wmn suffrage : additional burden on wmn bust with wife and motherhood

The Suffrage Movement: The Quest for the Vote Contines
- 1890 Alice Stone Blackwell helped unite NWSA + AWSA into NAWSA
-1869: Wyoming Territory enacted suffrage
-State suffrage opposed by liquor industries worried about wmn voting for Prohibition

Constituent Groups
-NAWSA idelogy closer to more conservative AWSA, going for single cause of suffrage
-Wmn's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) worked for wmns rights + to eliminate alcohol, first political efforts of wmn independent of men
-WCTU restricted sale of liquor in many areas + for a time the whole nation after 18th Amendment
-Frances Willard helped WCTU join wmn's suffrage: prohibition will only come if women can vote for it
-Brought traditional, religious, conservative wmn to suffrage cause
-Liquor industry not happy with tie between WCTU + wmn's rights, pours money into anti-suffrage effort
-Club mobement made by middle-class wmn in a variety of self-improvement clouds
-1888 Anthongy helped create National Council for wmn + then Generfal Federation of Women's Cluds ( CFWC) w/ more trhen 2 mil members by 1910
-2 types of clubs, self-improvement + civic/department clubs
- 1916 National Association of Colored Women , founded in 1896 had 28 state federations + more then 50,000 members
-Mary Church Terrell = 12t pres + in 1895= first African American wmn in country to be on school board
-Progressive organizations make wmn recognize ingerior status
-GFWC support suffrage officially in 1914
-Wmn chose club work over employment, fairly conservative
-Connected to progressivism to be able to extended trad roles as wife + mother
-poor wmn's rights so that they would be better mothers

Educated Suffrage
-postbellum era: change trands
-South: newly freed slaves + northern carpetbaggers -> turmoil + corruption
-North: immigrants crowd urban areas + formed powerful corrupt political machines
-made people think only the "better" elements of society should be in positions of political control.
-came to the idea of "political capacity/educated suffrage"
-NAWSA often unwilling connect suffrage w/"the colored problem"
-1898: Mary Church Terrel sopke at NAWSA annual meeting against segregation on trains
-NAWSA southern women very offended, NAWSA say it can't pass resolutions against railroad corporations
-Suffrage movement=predominantly white.
-NAWSA becomes slightly racist
0NAWSA say wmn = inherently less corrupt
-NAWSA becomes politically consercative as well, create state by state in 1903 so that southerns could exckude black women

Suffrage Flounders
-Early suffrage victories = Colorade, 1893, Idaho, 1896, Wymoing, 1890 + Utah 1896
-Wmn never win in every state, need national amendment
-Licuor still against suffrade control w.voting fraud
-Carrie Chapman Catt = NAWSA president in late 1915

Toward National Amendment
-1912=Alice Paul worked w/more militant British suffragettes and came to Congressional Committee in NAWSA
-Paul organized more than five thousandwmn to parade in DC for suffrage the day before Wilson's inauguration
-Marchers dressed in white, some on horseback
-obtained a permit but police offered no assitstance, there was eom violence
-People outraged at violence toard the women
-Congressional Union started by Alice Paul in April 1913, had to leave NAWSA
-Fought for passing a national suffrage bill w/ lots of marches
-Congressional Union become National Women's Party

A Winning Plan
-Carrie Chapman Catt created the Winning plan in 1916 to direct all NAWSA's power toward constitutional amendment by 1922
-Wanted to keep so much suffrage noise everywhere that no one knew where it was coming from
-Fought to get politicians avoiding suffrage not reelected in 1920
-World War I divereted many of the suffrage leaders energies, but Catt wouldn't let it all go
-Worked fr wmn's rights as a war mesaure, like the emancipation of the slaves
-Arkansas wmn won right tovote in March 1917, cracked solid south
-Southeren senators against ammendment, joined by others
-Female suffrage could hurt industry on south + northeast
-1918 NAWSA lauch campaign to defeat oppoents of suffrage who stood for reelection in 1918
-1919 = first house of reps then senate passed suffrage amendment.
-ratfication with 36 states completed in 1920
-First election where wmn voted = November of 1920

Women, Politics, and American Society pg. 1-17 -- Reaction

A lot of the material in this reading was already covered in class, which meant that it was more driving these ideas into my head instead of introducing them. It was still interesting to read this section and see how it was devided into the different movements, and then how the last movement itself was divided. Reading about the current wave of feminism, as well as the current lack of activity makes me start to think about the issues that I think are most important to women and the moment, and I have to say that I mostly agree with table 1.2 on pg. 14.

One of the biggest obstacles that women face today is domestic abuse and sexualvioelnce. Women have been making strides towards improving this, but I think there is a lot more to be done. Also, it seems like a cause that, if coined the right way, could be united behind. What woman would actually say she supports domestic vioelnce? Of course there are ways to get around it, saying that they support freedom in the home or something or other, but it seems that it would be much more likely for women to support this cause if it were correctly displayed.

The problem with a lot of the difficulties we now face is that there is no easy answer or realistic goal. During both the first and second women's movements, they were fighting specifically for the right tov toe (among other things). But it was that specific that united the women, it was something that we could all reach for (at least most could). The problem now is that although I'm sure most people would agree that domestic violence is bad, there isn't really a clear way to fix it.

Reading these about these movements and their struggle to become actual movements highlighted the problems they went through. Before the movements got anywhere, they had to have something that most women agreed on, that the could rally behind, which had a specific resolution. Unfortunately, even if we do end up deciding on a problem to fix, it will take years to work out the solution. There are always more women coming forward to do som though, and hopefully at some point we will unite together once more to see what we can get done.

Women, Poltics, and American Society pg. 1-17 -- Notes

Textbook Reading:

- Abigail Adams, "Remember the Ladies", March 31, 1776
- 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, Declaration of Sentiments + resolutions about ending gender discrimination
- 12 days after original, bigger meeting in Rochester, NY
- Hist = periods of high activity + periods of littlr activity over the years
- Early Woman's Movement (1848-1875)
- Suffrage Movement (1890-1925)
- Women's Rights Monement (1966-1995)
- Each movement's accomplishes in poltics, education/employment + personal rights
- Important factors in movements: organization base w/gov. support + preexisiting groups, availablitity of leaders/organizers, existence of communication, role of crisies.
- Wmn sought rights termed as "public goods": proposed equal rights ammendment
- Movements wanting public goods/broder terms air worse then movements w/specific goals.
- Today: wmn=52% of pop. + only 13.7% of membership in House of Reps+Senate

An Overview of Wome's Rights Movement Activity
The Early Woman's Movement (1848-1875)
- Discussion = wmn's proper role in society
- 1840's = religious revialism+people worked for the less fortunate, starting temperance+ abolition movements
- Wmn fought for active role in movements, finding place in liberal antslavery w/William Lloyd Garrison (editor of The Liberator)
- Started making lots of other abolitionist groups
- Maria W. Stewart= writer for Liberator gave 4 public addresses in Boston. Notable for being a black, female speaker when there were none.
- Sarah and Angelina Grimke also spoke out, letting women voice opinions of political issues.
- Wmn recognized while working w/antislavery that they were also discriminated against
- 1840: Lucretia Mott + Elizabeth Cady Stanton went w/husbands to London for World Anti-Slavery Socierty. After long journey, denied right to participate in meeting + told to sit in balcony.
- Mott + Stanton met there, went home + raise kids, + 8 yrs later made the convention in Seneca Falls.
- Women's friendships+abolitionist newspapers+annual conventions=fledgling women's movement until after civil war.
- 1869=after 15th ammendment problems, 2 organizations: NWSA (national wmn suffrage asso.) + AWSA (american wmn suffrage asso.)
- Wmn split = weaker + less success. -> limited activity

The Suffrage Movement (1890-1925)
- 1890: NWSA+AWSA=NAWSA w/ Susan B. Anothony at the head
- Wmn's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) wanted primarily abolition of liquor, founded 1874+promotes wmn suffrage by 1879. 200,000 members by early 1900's
- North + West = preogressive era: National Consumers' League (NCL) + Wmn's Trade Union League (WTUL)
- Wmn reverse earlier movement views: motherhood+marriage=important for right to vote instead of incidental roles.
- WCTU effective in south, cloacking radicals under temperance.
- Temerpance+progressive mvemnts=starting points for suffrage leaders
- Industrial machines=less work for wmn=time for clubs=tmie to get together +talk
- Clubs+social causes=realization of wmns inferior political position
- 1914: General Federation of Wmn's Clubs (GFWC) supports suffrage mvemnt
- 1920=passage of 19th ammendement

Women's Rights Movement (1966-1995)
- After suffrage little wmns activity until 1960's + afterwards can be split into two groups:
The Younger Branch
- Wmn work w/wmn's rights + other protests
- Many in civil rights mvemnt, college studets, realize men don't value their contribution.
- Connected black supression w/female supression
- Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC), Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) + Student Non-Violent Coordination Committee (SNCC) formed.
- Groups make Black Power phase -> many activists go to anti-war where wmn also experienced sexism.
- 1965: Students for a Democratic Socety (SDS) meeting -> wmn broached wmn's issue=verbal abuse
- Wmn's rights plank introduced, wmn pelted w/tomatoes+thrown out of convention.
- Jo Freeman + Shulamith Firestone= former civil rights activists, demand convention address sexism, told to calm down. Freeman -> wmn's gorup in Chicago, Firestone -> wmn's group in NY
- Wmn's mvnt spreading through students, used consciousness-raising group to educate wmn about their problems.
- Early-mid 1960's: groups = important role in wmns health care centers, rape crisis center, shelters for batted wmn + feminist wmn bookstores.
- Quiet for a while, then pro-choice arena which = joining together in 1980's
The Older Branch
- 1890'd many national organizations = mostly wmn.
- After 1920, fwe rganizations=active for wmn rights
- National League of Women Voters (LWV), National Federation of Business + Professional Wmn's Clubs (BPW), + National Council of Negro Wmn (NCNW)= pursueing improveing wmns legislative status.
- Civil Rights mvement + Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique (1963) brought together wmn
- 1963: JFK's President's Commission on the Status f Women report American Women state leaders followed JFK's lead
- Wmn into action after Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) failed to enforce 1964 Civil Rights Act which prohibits sex discrimination in employment.
- 1966: 3rd National Conference of Commissions on the Status of Women: conference by laws prohibit passing resolution demanding EEOC treat complaints seriously -> other wmns groups
- National Organization for Women (NOW), most orginial members from presidents commission
-Older branch wmn = well-trained leadersbut few organisers. NOW intial growth = slow, little new ground until 1970s
- 1970: media focus on wmn rights mvemnt. NY Times, Newsweek, NY magazie + more all spent time on the mvement making struggling mvemnt -> national phenomenon.
- 50th aniversay of areas = 2003 survey w/domestic violence + sexual assualt at the top along w/equal pay.
- No major issue = declined work in mvement
- 40% of wmn in 1970 = favored efforts to change wmns status.
= 1985: maj of wmn work outside home + 77% favored improved ststus for wmn
- End of 1980's = 58% -> change will occur
- Minority wmn more believe in need of mvement
- 68% hispanics, 63% african americans +41% whites strongly agree to push wmns mvement.
- Signals feminist realignment but wmn today=continually disengaged from wmn rights
- Gen X don't identify w/feminists, some do in "Third Wave Foundation"
- Many adavanecs in 150 yrs since Seneca Falls, many still unmet.

Vindicating Rights of Women
- 17th cent: Mary Astell = A Serious Proposal to Ladies 1965.
- Want wmn education + seminaries
- 1792: Mary Wollstonecraft: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman argues for coeducation of nation's children + extension of English wmn's rights

The Feminist Label
- Nancy F. Cott says term feminist emerged around 1910 meaning "complete social revolution" for wmn
- Early ideas = emancipation of wmn as human-being + sex-being
- More radical -> mostly younger, educated wmn + National Wmn's Party
- Wmn = men, no gender superior
- Wmn roles + statues = product of social structue -> changeable
- Wmn self-identified as social group -> act as group to change status
- emphaziing sexual equality + sexual differences
- Feminist becoming negative. 1998 32% wmn + 37% men have favorable ideas of feminist
- 1999: only 26% of americans define themselves as feminist, yet many support wmns rights
- Education + income = related to woman labeling herself "strong feminist"

"Generation X Feminism - The Third Wave"
- 1970's feminists called "second wave" by the 1980's
- mid-1990's= new gen of feminists
- Third Wave Foundation = national organization seeks to promote fem social + political agenda in poeple 15-30
- Third wave members part $1 for wach yr of their lifes.
- ROAM, reaching out across movements, to bring together young wmn activists

"The Declaration of Sentiments" -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton -- Reaction

The Declaration was short and too the point, which I tend to think is the most effective. It worked well to base it along the same frame as the Declaration of Independence, which connected the tyranny of man against woman to the tyranny of Britian against the colonies. Another way the writing worked well, was that it seemed, or at least seems now, very too the point instead of an angry, rambling, rant. It was also added at the bottom of the document, that the women writing the declaration knew that it wouldn't be accepted, that it would be challenged. But they wrote it anyway in hope of getting something done, something which did eventually happen.
'

"The Declaration of Sentiments" -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton -- Notes

Under Reserve Readings

- Same form as the Declaration of Independence.
- "that all men and women are created equal"
- whenever any government becomes corrupt or makes people suffer, the people must "insist upon the institution of a new government"
- points of men trying to establish "absolute tyranny over" women
- no rights, "civilly dead" when married, marriage makes man her "master", man opresses woman.
- uses He and her or she, just like in the delcaration of independence.
- talks about religious rights. "he has usurped the prerogative of Jehoah himself."
- calls women "one-half the people of this country"
- they realized going into their movement that they would face a lot of ridicule and problems.

Women's Rights Article -- Reaction

"Are Violence and Discrimination Against Women Declining?" by Karen Foerstel

Even after reading this article, it's hard to tell what the actual answer to the title question is.  Because the world is such a varied place, it is fair to say that in some places violence and discrimination are declining, while in others they are actually rising.  The new questions are why does this happen, and how can we stop it?

Women have been slowly making gains in political and economic rights, however there are still huge strides to make.  But before these strides can be made, it is essential for the women themselves to be convinced that we are worth something.  No matter where we are in the world, women are taught from birth that we are subordinate to men.  Endless jokes, laws, psychological attacks, physical attacks and more have been the vehicles in supplying this message, even without meaning too.  Religious women read stories, originally written and enforced by men, about how we have brought the downfall of human-kind through some sort of weakness.  Eve and Pandora are just two examples that were mentioned in the article.

From my liberal, feminist, Northern-American point of view, some of the data in that article was simply disturbing.  Femicide, infanticide, women who agree that men can beat their wives for a variety of trivial offenses, are all supported by some women around the world.  Women themselves are performing sex-based abortions and some are killing themselves to escape the situations they are in.  But what causes this?  And what causes the women who are indifferent to it?  The article, like many I have read on women's rights, and humanitarian rights in general, has stirred up just as many questions as it has answered.  There is a purely objective answer to these questions, sex-based abortions and female infanticide could be due to economic concerns, safety concerns, familial and communal pressures, and more.  But still, I have to question how women can truly believe that they aren't on an equal level as men.

Reading this article was frustrating and intriguing to me.  There was so much real data, making me take many more notes then was probably necessary (see earlier post).  Numbers, dates, percentages.  So many things about women and our rights are vague, ideas and ideals, not actually addressed.  To me it's depressing, although also morbidly interesting, that the country that's had the most success with women in politics, reached that goal after a horrible genocide killed thousands of people, especially men.  Now that women are 70% of the population in Rwanda, they also have much more representation in the government.  But there must be some way to make women step into roles that they can preform, without killing the men who usually do them.

But the brain runs in circles trying to figure this out.  Women have been fighting for their rights for years and years, and in some cultures it has been granted, only to be swept away.  This article provided data that supported the idea that women are actually more efficient in government and negotiations, yet we are always told the opposite is true.  The most important idea I have received from this article, is that women need to know the truth about themselves.  The truth biologically, psychologically, emotionally, in relationship to men, in relationship to other women.  Just, the truth.  

Except there really is no just about the truth, as this article demonstrates.  It is contradictory and it can be warped in many ways.  I really liked how this article portrayed many sides of the same argument, because only in hearing the most different view points can you determine what is true and what is not, at least personally, and that is the first step.

Women's Rights Article -- Notes

"Are Violence and Discrimination Against Women Declining?" by Karen Foerstel

- Only 14 of 193 countries currently have elected female leaders.
- Women = 70% of world's poorest inhabitants + 64% of the illiterate
- W/out greater economic, political + educational equality, womens status won't improve + society will suffer.
- estimated 5,000 women per year killed in "honor killings"
- Iraqi Du'a Khalil Aswad's murder in April 07 = recorded and on internet, gaining media's attention.
- Killed because she fell in love w/ man outside religious sect
- Killings also take place in other places: U.K. est. up to 17,000 women killed related to "honor"
* GBV = gender based violence, (i.e. honor killings + more)
- Guatemala = est. 3,000 women killed over 7 years
- most w/ misogynistic violence
- only 1% perpetrators = convicted
- India = est 5 women burned/day by husbands over insufficient dowries.
- Asia = 163 mil. females "missing" from pop.
- because of sex-selective abortion, infanticide + neglect
- Rape increased in Africa from 90's by men who believe having sex w/ virgin = cure/protection from HIV-AIDS
- 70-yr man raped 3-yr girl in Kano, Nigeria
- last 6 months = 54 cases of child rape reported
- Sexual violence common in war countries.
- Rep. of Congo = "license to rape" due to no prosecution
- est .25 mil. women raped + sometimes sexually mutilated
- Some cultures punish female victims.
- Pakistan = 1 woman gang-raped/every 8 hours
- Until recently, rape not prosecuted there unless 4 trustworthy muslim men testify witnessing attack. Otherwise victim = prosecuted for fornication + alleging false crime.
- When law changed, thousads protested.
- Pakistan honor killings = up 400% in 2 yrs.
- also acid attacks: throwing acid at women face + body
- 130 mil women undergone genital mutlation + 2 mil more at risk.
- Women work 2/3's total hours worked by en + earn 10% of income
- Women produce >1/2 world's food + own <1%>500,000 women die in pregnancy +childbirth/ year. 99% in developing countries.
- 2 mil girls btwn 5-15 forced in commercial sex markey/year
- 10 mil more girls then boys don't attend school.
- Women still have historic progress.
- 90's = 2/3 of kids not getting educated were girls, today only 57% are girls
- March 08 = 14 women are elected heads of state/gov
- Women = 17.8% of worlds parliamentary seats
- India = 1st female president: Pratibha Patil who promises to eliminate aborting female fetuses in india.
- Oct 07, Argentina elected 1st female president: Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, 2nd woman in two years in s. america
- Michelle Bachelet = president of Chile in 2006 + a single mom
- Women still only hole 4.4% of world's 342 president/P.M. positions
- No country has 50% or more women in national legislative seats
- Higher women in office = dif. legislative outputs
- less funding of bombs + more on human security/well-being
- Nearly 100 countries impose gender quotes in parliaments
- 1995 UN 4th world conference on women in Beijing:
- 185 gov took goal of 30% female rep in national legislature.
- only 20 countries have reached that goal today + quotas are often attacked
- 5,000 gov reps want better health care for wmn, end to violence against wmn, equal education, promotion of economic independence + more to imorve wmn's conditions
- 10 yrs later Beijing platform still not achieved, many ? if wmn are any btter off
- International trade = bad + good: women = more employment + economic opportunities but jobs = low wages + dangerous work.
- poor countries ignore saftey + labor precautions to get foreign investors
- More international trade = more wmn forced/sold inro prostitution +sexual slabery abroad under false pretenses
- Many international agreements pledged to provide wmn w/ similar oppotunities + protections as men have missed deadlines or on track to fail.
- More then 70 countries in CEDAW giled reservations aka exemptions

-Has globalization been good for women?
- last 20 yrs trade liberalization = mass increase of goods from developing countries creatin many jobs for women.
- wmn in these jobs earn more then in traditional sectors + cash income may improve status + bargining power in the family.
- In Mexico many wmn report improvement in life due to income from working outside hoe
- Wmn in developing countries mostly = less educated then men makes most jobs part-time w/out health-care benefits, overtime or sick leave.
- wmn hold high % of jobs in garment, cut flower, and fruit industry in developing countries.
- jobs = no formal contract = more poor safety + abuse
- wmn lack protection because work = domestic, in home, + part-time
- west countries recommend developing countries adopt structural adjustment economic reforms to qualify for certain loans +financial support
- countries encouraged to make jobs flexible: hurts wmn
- globalization = more cash crops for export which hurts wmn farmers who produce 60-80% of household food in developing countries.
- small wmn farmers = pushed off land for cash crops
- wmn advocates say females = benefited from broadening communication btwn countries
- communication helps human-rights campaigns: wmn in remote towns can email organizations
- domestic violence now = global issue.
- est 800,000 people trafficked across international borders/year (80% = wmn, most forced into sex trade)
- mil more = trafficked inside countries
- globalization sparked mass migration of wmn to find better jobs +lives
- 90 mil wmn, 1/2 world's migrants, reside outside home country. wmn often don't speak local language and are easy for traffickers who lure w/ promises of abroad jobs.
- real problem = lack of labor protection not migration + globalization
- countries should make agreements providing labor + wag protection for domestic workers migrating, wmn would then benefit from job + income from migration + globalization

- Should governments impose election quotas for women?
- 2003: Rwanda rebuild after genocide killed at least 800,000 hutus and tutsis. Country take new constitution requiring wmn hold at least 30% of posts
- Now, rwanda's lower chouse of parliament now leads world in female rep w/ 48.8% wmn
- Before civil war, wmn never had >18% of parliament. after genocide, country = 70% female + wmn stepped into leadership + head of household
- post-conflict countries go from military regimes to new democracies that include women
- Iraq + Afghanistan have electoral quotes for wmn _ # of wmn in political office grow faster in sub=saharan africa than anywhere.
- BUT increasing # of wmn doesn't = more women's rights. depends on which wmn in which positions
- Afghanistan mandates wmn have at least 27% of govs lower house + 17% of upper house, but rep does little to improve wmns rights.
- Journalist condemned to die for distributing wmns rights articles + record #'s of afghan wmn = killing themselves (burning alive) to escape abuse + forced marriages.
- quotas don't mean anything: depends on type of quota. Jordan has 6 seats to elect women who have most votes then other female candidates in district, even if less then men. many tribes = sending wives + sisters to gain votes since its easier. many of these wmn = conservatie + against wmns rights
- 64% of university students = wmn in Iran but gov mandates at least 40% be male, voting wmn out of school
- quotas = constitutional or statue/voluntary. also vary in requirements: nominated, on bllot, or in office
- 40 countries use gender quotas in national parliament elections + another 50 have major parties that voluntarily use quotas for candidates
- question not just quota efficiency, but also fairness. feminists traditionally oppose unfairness but it's not fair the way it is now.
- "quotas are not discrimination against men but compensatio for discriminatio against women" -- Dahlerup
- quotas don't solve all problems

- Do international treaties improve women's rights? 

- There have been many treaties, but little as happened: there has been little funding

- Female HIV cases more then male in many areas

- Long standing social + cultural traditions block progress of laws

- International agreements still critical because impact norms and standards

- MDG aims to improve lives of all world poop by 2015 but only 2/8 address wmn''s issues

- Goals set already aren't being reached and others aren't likely to

- Goals are too broad to have effect in rights

- Dif. sides on the question.  some yes, some no.

- CEDAW better success.  185 countries submit reg reports to UN on progress

- USA refuses CEDAW because it would "promote abortion" and require gov to pay for child care + maternity leave.

- 'Structural Defects'

- Used to be matriarical societies: didn't understand conception so wmn giving birth = miracles 

- 8th cen BC creation stories = fall of man from weakness of wmn

- Greek = pandora; Judea = Eve

- Ancient greece wmn = children w/out basic rights. couldn't leave house unchaperoned, no education/land.  Father could sell daughter who had sex before marriage + rape lead to outcast

- Roman = only a little better: eventually divorce + wmn owned property until early Christian leaders

- Early church = wmn dependent on + subordinate to men

- wmn = "man's helpmate" to "preserve species/provide food +drink"

- 14th-17th cen religious leaders blame tragedies + more on witches.

- est 30,000-60,000 people executed for alleged witchcraft.  80% female, as young as 8

- Push for Protections

- Age of Enlightenment + industrial revolution = 18th + 19th cen: more opportunites for wmn in jabs + more social freedom

- 1792: Mary Wollstoncraft: A Vindication of the Rights of Women: "feminist declaration of independence."

- Similar to French rev. but french refused wmn's rights in 1789

- British Mines Act, 1842: prohibit wmn from working underground

- Married Women's Property Act, 1870

- 1893: New Zealand = 1st nation to grant full suffrage rights to women

- Over next 2 decades Finland, Norway, Denmark + Iceland all granted rights

- USA grants wmn's suffrage in 1920

- 1906: 1 of 1st international labor conventions, Berne Switzerland, all about wmn.  prohibited night work for wmn in industrial, signed by 12 nations

- 1924: US supreme court upheld night-work law for wmn

- 1946: UN created Commission on Status of Women, received much attention

- 1950's = many UN conventions for women: 1952 = wmn right to vote, ratified in 120countries + 1957= wmn marrying alien doesn't automatically change her nationality, only 57 countries, not USA

- 1951: UN promote equal pay for equal work, 164 countries, not USA

- 1958: convention ensuring equal opportunity + treatment in employment, 166 countries, not USA. 

- some americans argue there is already equal pay

- Women's 'Bill of Rights'

- 1979: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) made in General Assembly: 130-0 w/10 abstentions but many counties said afterwards "yes" votes don't = countries committed support.

- CEDAW took <2>

- CEDAW participants = sexual equality in legal systems + abolish discriminatory law, end trafficking of wmn + ensure equal access to life.

- Also grants wmn reproductive choice, 1 of main reason USA not ratified.

- Doesn't directly mention violence

- 1993: UN said violating wmn = violating fundamental human rights

- Yugoslavia + Rwanda's wmn protected (some) during wars

- 1996: 8 Bosnian Serb police indicted from mass rape of Muslim wmn during Bosnian war: 1st time sexual assault prosecuted as war crime

- 1998: Rwandan mayor convicted for genocide, crimes against humanity, rape, + sexual violence. 1st time rape + sexual violence = recognized as acts of genocide

- Beijing and Beyond

- 1975 UN world conference on wmn, mexico city = 44 pg plan of action for a decade of special measures to give wmn equal status + opportunities in law, education, employment, politics, + society.

- Wmn conferences every 5 yrs. 1985 = more then 10,000 reps from gov. largest gathering on wmns issues at the time.

- 10 yrs = failure due to bad economics + new plan for last 15 yrs of cent.

- 1995 = Beijing conference: Beijing Platform addressed 12 critical areas against wmn

- 1990's = more wmn in top political positions then ever before: 10 countries = wmn presidents btwn 1990 + 2000, 17 countries = wmn prime ministers.

- 2006: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia = Africa's first elected woman president, same year as Chile + Jamaica.

- World Bank report = gov corruption declines as women elected to office. wmn = more "helping behavior", vote on social issues, score higher on integrity tests, stronger stances on ethical behavior + more generous w/ economic decisions.

- Rise of Fundamentalism

- Political gains = coming but violence + repression of wmn = daily occurrences, connected to global growth of religious fundamentalism

- 2007: 21 yr wmn in Saudi Arabia = 200 lashes + jailed for 6 months after being raped by a gang of 7 men. woman = 19 at time + w/former boyfriend.  Illegal for wmn to meet in private w/ an not husband or relative.

- King Abdullah pardoned wman in December bcause of political pressure, not personal view.

- Other Saudi woman faces beheading on charges of witchcraft + is yet to be pardoned

- Iraq: rise of religious fundamentalism = rise in # of wmn being killed/beaten in honor killings for flirting-"allowing" herself to be raped. Relatives believe must murder her to end families shame.

- oct 07 UN mission found 255 wmn killed in Iraqi Kurdistan in 1st 6 months of 07, most by their communities or families 

- Debate of wmn wearing head scarves in Muslim world.

- Turkish president's wide wears head scarf, in Feb turkey vote ease 80 yr ban on wearing head scarves @ universities.

- Ban lifting = good + bad.  wmn can be pressured into wearing head scarves but ban kept conservative wmn from becoming doctors, lawyers + teachers

- Forced marriages + honor killings = against islamic law, part of the sharia law which was created by men

- UN est 5,000 wmn = honor killed/year. millions more= abused + killed in violence not islamic

- btwn 10-50% of all wmn in world = physically abused by intimate partner in life.

- there is partner killings in USA + UK as well, not considered honor killings

- christian +islam fundamentalism growing.

- 2006 poll = 1/3 of americans feel Bible should be basis of law in US

- fundamentalism threatens wmn's rights, especially w/ reproductive issues. 

- religions don't say do bad things, bad things are done in the name of religion.

- UK = dealing w/ honor killings via police and courts. 

- Evolving Gender Policies. 

- UN report criticized Suadi Arabia's treatment of wmn: ban on wmn drivers, male guardianship denying wmn equal inheritance, child custody + divorce rights

- US = 1/8 countries that refuses to ratify CEDAW, also Iran, Sudan, + Somalia

- last yr, 108 members of US house of reps send resolution for Senate to ratify CEDAW, still not voted on.

- UN vote last nov = encouraging govs to meet obligations under CEDAW: US = only nay vote against 173 yea votes.

- American opponents of CEDAW = pro-life + Republicans: would enshrine right to abortion + very expensive, potentially = US gov provide paid maternity leave + more child-care to all wmn.

- Argue CEDAW = too much power over US to UN

- CEDAW stalled in Senate: needs 67 votes.

- Failure to ratify = bad for wmn + US image ( only other countries = Sudan and Vatican)

- Turkmenistan = 1st national law for wmn equal rights

- Royal decree in Saudi Arabia = end to old ban on wmn checking into hotels w/male guardians.

- Canadian military tries to understand wmn in Afghanistan + how they can help + are affected

- Feb = new 7-r campaign at ending violence towards wmn

- 4 agencies in UN for wmn, only $65 mil all together

- Political Prospects

- Wmn sv. men in politics = miniscule, still achieving gains unthinkable a few years ago.

- Wmn = tight race for US presidency nomination.

- S. America has most wmn-led govs.

- Brazil: Dilma Rousseff: female chief of staff, maybe pres after next terms ends in 2010

- Paraguay: Blanca Ovelar: pres nominee for conservative party, although defeated.

- Spain: Carme Chacon = 1st wmn in armed forces (Defense Minister), also pregnant at appointment.  9/17 members of spain cabinet = wmn

- Pakistan: elected 1st female speaker of National Assembly: Fahmida Mirza

- India: Patil = 1st wmn pres

- Iran = disappointing: many wmn run, only three elected.

- Kenya: greatest campaign expense for wmn cnadidates = 24 hr security to protect against rape

- Many threats of violence against wmn

- Impunity for Violence

- Mothers teacher sons dif from daughters

- 80% of wmn in rural Egypt believe man = justified to beat wmn if she refuses to sleep w/ him.

- Ghana: 50% of wmn + only 43% of man believe man can beat wife if she uses contraception w/out his consent

- Guatemala: 3,000 wmn killed in 7 yrs w/no war. 

-Rapists now can't escape charges by marrying victi, but not prison for domestic abuse + abusers can't be charged if bruising fades before 10 days

- Mexico authorities = indifferent to 400 wmn murdered in 14 yrs w/ unsolved crimes.

- Rwanda = 49% of reps in lower house = female.

- 2006: improved reporting, investigation +response = 1,777 referred cases of rape + 803 convicted men.  

- Many violent acts not going to court: dem rep of congo = no gender-based crimes despite over 250,000 wmn = raped + sexually abused

- Economic Integration

- Don't need another big conference, resources instead should improve UN oversight of wmns issues

- Fear growth of religious fundamentalism + economy = setting back wmns progress?

- conferences = backlash from growing fundamentalist movement

- Wmn's well-being needs to be incorporated in all politics, not separate legislatures

- Despite years of work, economy getting worse

- Malawi: % of wmn in poverty increased 5% btwen 1995-2003

- Growing food shortage hit wmn especially hard

- Poverty issues must address wmn specifically as well