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Alyssa Winn
Professor Katie Demong
SOC 2370, Section 501-F17
14 October 2017

Assignment 4: The Makers: Women Who Make America

Part I: Awakening
Facts:
1. Civil Rights Act of 1964s Title VII prohibited discrimination based on race, color,
national origin, sex, religion, and retaliation.
2. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission took effect on July 2nd, 1965. At the time
the organization lacked authority to eliminate discrimination, it was a commission used to
receive and organize claims. They were only able to refer complainants to private courts
to address their concerns of inequality.
3. The National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded on June 30th, 1966. Betty
Friedan, author of the Feminine Mystique, was the first president. The goal of the
organization was to end sex discrimination in the workplace.
4. The Womens Liberation Movement was a more radical, younger based feminist
movement than that of the National Organization of Women. The goal of the second
wave was to bring equality into womens lives and overthrow the oppressive, patriarchy
system.
5. Ms. Magazine was co-created by Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes as a protest
against the homemaker stereotyped ladies journals. The first issue was in January 1972.
The magazine gave widespread coverage to the second-wave feminist movement and
helped to bring feminist and the fight for gender equality into main stream society.
Talk about one story or interview from each of the three episodes that resonates with you
personally, and why you felt it was insightful or important.
The account of Kathrine Switzer, the first female to enter and finish the Boston Marathon
strongly resonated with me. I liked that she was a groundbreaker, and that she registered in the
race because thats something she enjoyed. It wasnt until her interaction with the race director
and the media that she comprehended what it meant for women that she not only ran but finished
the race.
What stuck with me the most about her interview is the two ways that men were
represented, the oppressive antagonist and a supportive friend. I wish I wasnt shocked by the
fact that a man was willing to mentor her, or that her boyfriend supported her even running in the
race. I was really struck by the photos of her mentor and boyfriend staying by her side and even
defending her against the aggressive race director. It may have initially been a protection instinct
instead of a political message but the images make me hopeful of collaboration between men and
female. I saw it as less about having, or taking power from one group but the idea that just
because a woman gains something, doesnt mean a man loses.
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An article I read earlier this week horrified me because it described a consequence of the
increase reports of sexual harassment claims has made men, especially in Silicon Valley, less
likely to mentor, network or collaborate with women one on one because of fear of being
accused of harassment (Strong 2017). Known as the Billy Graham Rule, this practice is often
advocated to prevent any suspicion of wrong doing and is used as a form of protection for the
man (Johnson & Smith 2017). How is it possible that the only two options being used right now
are unwarranted, aggressive acts of harassment or ignoring women all together? I think that is
why Switzers story and the excited reaction of other male racers that resonated with me. Im
hopeful that there are feminist men in society that just need to be given a third option. Hope that
we can all succeed together.

Part II: Changing the World

Facts:
1. The Battle of the Sexes refers to the tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean
King on September 20th, 1973. The match signified the political and social battle between
the Womens Liberation Movement and the misogynistic conservatives. Billie Jean King
won the match, and along with the Title IX passage gave momentum to the social change
and increase support of womens sports.
2. The Pill was approved for contraceptive use in 1960. This allowed for women to have
more control over their body, when they wanted to be pregnant, how many children they
wanted or gave them control to focus on their career or be financial stable. It sparked the
sexual revolution.
3. Abortion was criminal in the United States until the Supreme Court ruling (7 to 2) in the
Roe vs. Wade case of 1973. It made it legal for a woman and her doctor to decide on an
abortion in the first 3 months of pregnancy.
4. The Equal Rights Amendment was proposed to offer constitutional protection against sex
based discrimination. In 1972 it had congressional approval but required state ratification.
The amendment was not passed because of the campaigning of STOP ERA conservative
campaigns.
5. The 1980s brought back conservative popular opinion and with it the often violent
campaigns against abortions. There has been a 40% drop in abortion providers in the last
two decades.
Talk about one story or interview from each of the three episodes that resonates with you
personally, and why you felt it was insightful or important.
Since our class read Patricia Hill Collins Black Feminist Thought I have been
reflecting on different forces of oppression and how many women are still marginalized and their
issues not included in the Womens Liberation Movement. Although the documentary talks
about different successes of the movement, it focuses on white middle class women pushing
back against the glass ceiling and neglecting the challenges of Black and minority working or
low class women. Thats why I was really impressed by Shirley Chisholms success when she
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was the first Black women elected to Congress in 1968, but also remained there for seven terms!
When Chisholm admitted that she faced more discrimination as a woman than because of her
race it helped to bring together all women and showcase the importance of standing together. I
liked how Letty Cottin Pogrebin described it as the organic beginning of integration within the
Womens movement.

Part III: Charting a New Course

Facts:
1. In 1984 Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice president on a major party
ticket. She lost the election but it signified that many women are pushing into professions
that were previously limited to only men.
2. The Term Battered Woman didnt exist until the mid to late 1970s because it wasnt
recognized as real violence or a crime. Sexual Assaults were considered Victim
Precipitated Crimes because it was understood that the woman had to have done
something to invite or deserve the assault. The Womans Movement helped to start the
conversation and challenge social opinion of violence against women.
3. The Take Back the Night march was organized in 1975 in Philadelphia to protest
violence against women.
4. 1992 was called the Year of the Woman because of the record number of woman in
elected positions. 24 women won new seats in the House of Representatives and 5
women won new seats in the Senate. Many believed that the dismissal of Anita Hills
sexual harassment claim against Clarence Thomas by the male-dominated senate caused
women to take action by running for office and increasing voter turnout.
5. The term second shift refers to the many roles that a woman has to fill, that a man does
not. She will go to work, come home and still be responsible for making dinner, taking
care of children and maintaining the household. Second Shift means her work is never
done.
Talk about one story or interview from each of the three episodes that resonates with you
personally, and why you felt it was insightful or important.
Tracey Thurmans account of surviving domestic violence is heartbreaking, especially
knowing that it happened in 1983. She reported for eight months the abuse she suffered from her
husband and it was continually dismissed by the police. The extent of the misconduct is
appalling because her then husband Buck was never viewed as the perpetrator, even when
officers witnessed abuse. I think it really captures how many women felt powerless to change
their situation because they were supported. Its amazing that she was willing to be vulnerable
again when suing the city and police department for their negligence. She could have just as
easily been dismissed again, but thankfully she won the case. It was a landmark ruling when the
Thurman Law (The Family Violence Prevention and Response Act) set precedence for
responding to domestic violence. I think this interview is important to the film and for history to
remember because it highlights the power men had over women but also the push for social
change and the ultimate goal of the equalization of power between genders.
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3. How does this series shed light on the challenges that exist when we use gender division
to advocate for changes. What are those challenges?
I think that highlighting gender division propels men against women and heightens the
fight to keep power (men) or gain power (women). In the series it highlighted how each
progression towards equality was met by a dismissive campaign from the main society.
The gender division limits the different viewpoints because of the grouping that happens.
It is dominated by one feminist perspective. Although gender equality, at work and at home, is
the goal, not all women saw their homemaker role as oppressive or as failing in life. Or the fact
that it marginalized the problems minority women faced.
4. What insight does this longitudinal, macro view of the women's movement from the
1960's and beyond give you? How does it relate to some of the concepts we have discussed
in class?
One concept that I took from the videos is that social change is never complete. The
issues that women are fighting are evolving and changing as social norms and institutions are
evolving. The videos reflected the ebb and flow of the equal rights movement, how there can
appear to be limitless progression but the suddenly halted by conservative public opinions. I
think we have to continue to fight for equality with our voice and our actions regardless if there
is impression that weve already achieved everything we need. It is especially important because
our equal right movement is an example for third world and developing countries. We cannot
help with their liberation if we continue to be oppressed on our home front.
5. Did you garner any insight into how we can move forward from this point?
After watching the documentary and feeling the energy of the Womens Liberation
Movement, I can understand how that generation of feminists is disappointed in the stagnant
progress. However, I think the conclusion was thought provoking because as women we are able
to enjoy freedoms that werent previously available, one of them the ability to choose what kind
of feminist we want to be. I still believe it to be an unfinished revolution but I dont want to be
told what I should want to be or what my desires are regardless if it comes from a man or a
womens movement. I think moving forward there will be flexibility to have more personal
interpretations of feminism that hopefully allow more diverse perspectives to be included.
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Works Cited

Clark, Anne Victoria. The Rock Test: A Hack for Men Who Don't Want To Be Accused of Sexual
Harassment. Medium, 9 Oct. 2017, medium.com/@annevictoriaclark/the-rock-test-a-
hack-for-men-who-dont-want-to-be-accused-of-sexual-harassment-73c45e0b49af.
Johnson, W. Brad, and David G. Smith. Men Shouldn't Refuse to Be Alone with Female
Colleagues. Gender, Harvard Business Review, 13 July 2017, hbr.org/2017/05/men-
shouldnt-refuse-to-be-alone-with-female-colleagues.