WOMEN’S RIGHTS

1. WOMEN’S RIGHTS

2. Overview • Women treated as second class citizens under the Constitution • Women’s movement began in 1848, obtained right to vote in 1920 • Second wave women’s movement in 1970s was inspired by Black Civil Rights Movement • Key issues for women’s rights movement: • ERA • Reproductive Rights • Equal pay • Sexual harassment • Equal educational opportunity

3. Abigail and John Adams on Women’s Rights “Remember the ladies….All men would be tyrants if they could.” Abigail Adams, 3/31/1776 “I cannot but laugh….you are so saucy….[you] would subject us to the Despotism of the Petticoat.” 4/14/76

4. 1848 Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention • “Declaration of Sentiments” • Western New Yorker Elizabeth Cady Stanton • Includes: right to vote, property rights, right to work in professions, right to education, right to be priests, complains of subordination in marriage, loss of custody in divorce, double standards, and social inequality.

5. Separate Spheres Doctrine • Men regarded as breadwinners and master of his castle • Women regarded as primarily caregivers and homemakers • Men in the public sphere, women in the private sphere • The cult of true womanhood

6. Women’s Suffrage • Delayed by abolitionist movement and Reconstruction • Rochester native Susan B. Anthony • Picketers at White House in 1917 arrested—force fed when they went on hunger strike. • Passage of Women’s Suffrage Amendment 19 in 1920

7. Second Wave • 1960—Betty Friedan’s Feminine Mystique rekindles the movement • “The private is the political” • Gender inequality in the workforce • Reproductive rights • Violence against women • NOW established 1966

9. Equal Rights Amendment • “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” • Amendments need a 2/3 vote in House and 2/3 in Senate, then ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures (38 states) • Congress approved ERA in 1972 at height of modern women’s movement • 22 states ratified in first year but only 35 ratified by 1979 deadline. • 1979 deadline extended to 1982 but to no avail

10. Current Status of ERA • Two more states have since ratified—one more needed for 38 • Previous extension of ratification deadline raises question of another extension. 7 year time limit not in Constitution. • Ratification of 27th Amendment after 200 years lead some to argue that Congress could repeal time limit and ERA could still be ratified with one more state! • Joe Biden supports this.

11. Reproductive Rights • Women’s control over own reproduction regarded by women as a key aspect of personal liberty • Griswold v. Connecticut 1965 established “right to privacy” allowing birth control • Roe v. Wade 1973 extended right to privacy to abortion • Backlash—rise of religious new right in politics

12. Current Status of Roe v. Wade • Restrictive licensing requirements on clinics performing abortions has driven almost all clinics out of Missouri and elsewhere. • Georgia’s fetal heartbeat law only allows abortions during first 6 weeks. • Alabama’s newest abortion law bans virtually all abortions. • Two most recent appointments to Supreme Court are seen as pro-life. • Will Roe v. Wade be overturned soon? Some think so.

13. Workplace Issues • Title VII of Civil Rights Act prohibits job discrimination against women • Why, then, are women paid less than men?

14. Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act 2009 • On average, women earn 78% of men • Amended 1964 Civil Rights Act (Title IX) • Extended 180 day statute of limitations to cover each pay period

15. Comparable Worth • Equal pay for equal work is not enough • Traditional women’s occupations are paid less than men’s even when they involve same level of education, responsibility, and experience • Example: Librarians vs. electrical engineers

16. Family Issues • Women are more likely than men to take time out of the workforce to raise and care for family members • Women’s pay is ~= to men’s until the birth of 1st child • Family and Medical Leave Act only provides 12 weeks unpaid leave • Compared to one year paid 80% in Norway

17. Sexual Harrassment • Both a workplace issue and an educational issue • Quid pro quo harassment—Go out with your supervisor to get a raise, promotion, etc. • Hostile environment—Coworkers give you a hard time for being female or make lewd comments • Retaliation—Getting fired for complaining

18. #metoo movement, 2017-2019 • Tyrana Burke, founder • Donald Trump, Access Hollywood tape • Harvey Weinstein • Al Franken • Roy Moore • Bill Cosby

19. Brett Kavanaugh • Nominated by Trump to replace Justice Kennedy • Evangelical support him as a fifth vote to overturn Roe decision. • Accusations of Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez

20. Educational Rights • Title IX—establishes equal educational opportunity in higher ed • Gender equality not just in collegiate sports, but all programs • NY State “Enough is Enough” Act—colleges and universities must make greater efforts to address campus sexual assault • Betsy DeVos—some universities have gone too far; need greater protections for the rights of the accused