1960s: A Dynamic Decade

1. 1960s: A Dynamic Decade • In the mid-1960s, the country was riveted by political activists, first battling for the civil rights for African Americans, then demonstrating against the Vietnam War. • Women & other minority groups learned from these radical criticisms of society and began to adopt their rhetoric & methods toward issues of their rights.

2. Women’s Liberation Movement • The Women's Liberation Movement began in an era of elevated consciousness about an array of civil rights issues. • In the 1960s: growing gap between a ideology of the contented housewife in a traditional domestic role & the reality of increasing #s of women in the workforce • Working women faced discrimination in pay and advancement because of their gender

3. Women’s Rights Movement • Women’s Liberation Day, April 17, 1971 • New England Women’s Coalition marched fr/ Copley Sq. Plaza to Boston Common • Rally was held at the Common, w/local and nat’l speakers re: women’s liberation • # of women’s orgs set up booths & pass out info

4. Women in the Workplace The years following WWII in the U.S. saw an increase in the # of women entering the work force, & more significantly, staying in the work force after marriage & starting a family. Boston was no exception. These women faced a number of barriers in the work place, including gender discrimination, inequality of pay, sexual harassment & inaccessibility of child care. Flyer lashes out at a1995 welfare policy set by MA Sect.of Health & Human Services which penalized poor women for working

5. Reproductive Rights The women's movement was particularly concerned with reproductive issues, such as access to birth control and doctors. Abortion rights were often at the forefront of reproductive rights discussions.

6. Body Image • Members of the Women's Action Coalition slipped these pamphlets into fashion magazines. This pamphlet is highly critical of the "ideal female image" projected by the magazines. It encourages women not to measure themselves by the standards set by the media and the fashion industry.

7. Violence Against Women • Feminist publications such as The Second Wave: A Magazine of the New Feminism published articles that created an open dialogue on previously "taboo" topics, such as rape, sexual assault, & domestic abuse • Boston area organizations, such as the Women's Center of Cambridge, provided services for women who had been victims, and organized rape prevention and self defense classes. • Organizations such as Women Against Violence Against Women sought to eliminate violent and demeaning depictions of women in advertising, film, and music. • The Boston WAVAW group participated in numerous direct actions, including boycotting recording companies, picketing demeaning store displays; protesting offensive films, and spray painting derogatory billboards and store front displays.

8. Domestic Abuse • On January 27, 1993, the Women's Action Coalition held a demonstration at the MA State House to support “the Framingham 8”, a group of women incarcerated in Framingham State Prison for killing their abusive partners.

9. Latinos Raise Their Voices • "Latino" people fr/ countries in the Caribbean & from Central & South America • They share their Spanish language in common • They have recognized the common challenges they face to be included into the political, economic, educational & social life. • Denied equal opps. in housing, employment, & education.

10. Latinos Organize • Because their most pressing needs had not been met, in the late 1960s and early 1970s Latinos began to follow the pattern of the African American community, developing grass-roots social service organizations to address concerns: • Education, English as a second language, job skills, employment, health services, youth violence, cultural programming, and affordable housing.

11. Movimento Chicano • Chicanos or Mexican-Americans organize • Students walk-out of schools in the Barrios or Latino neighborhoods to protest the poor conditions • Non-violent methods of the • African American were • adopted

12. “Brown Power” • Cesar Chavez works to improve conditions for migrant farm workers who were terribly expoited • Dolores Huerta & Chavez begin the United Farm Workers (UFW) • Organized boycotts of crops harvested by non-union workers • 1975 California law requiring collective bargaining • La Raza Unida- political party supported Latino issues & candidates

13. Native Americans Organize • Est. 1968 to fight for treaty rights & better conditions & opportunities • Patrols in city to protect • Encouraged pride in youth • Fought for Autonomy • Natural resources on land • Restoration of lands • Criticized for being militant

14. Dennis Banks

15. AIM • Cofounders were Dennis Banks, Herb Powless, Clyde Bellecourt, and Eddie Benton Banai • Russell Means = early leader • Originally to protect Natives from police abuse • AIM patrols still work in Minneapolis • AIM activists oppose the use of Native caricatures as mascots for sports teams • Organize protests at the Super Bowl

18. 1890 Wounded Knee 1793 • Stand-offs with Federal Agents to draw attention to issues • “Broken Treaties Caravan” to raise awareness • 1969 Alcatraz Island…Treaty of Laramie 1868 • 1973 Oglala So. Dakota Sioux; 300 arrested; Awareness! • Some 1970s legislation favored Native Americans