Sexual liberation and equality 1965-1969

1. Sexual liberation and equality1965-1969 Sheila L. Grant

2. An overview of women’s liberation • The 1960’s began the age of the Women’s Movement, when women suffragettes were finally finding their voice and standing up to stand on equal footing with men and have the same opportunities afforded to them. • This was a time of change and revolution for women and the roles they were supposedly born to be in. • Women were starting to take charge of their lives and demand the respect they deserve, these are just a few ways they displayed it.

3. National events of historic importance • The National Organization for Women (NOW) is formed in 1966 to take a stand for women and let the world know that women deserve as much respect and equality as their male counterparts • Constitutional equality amendment • Reproductive Rights • Lesbian Rights • Violence Against Women • Economic Justice

4. National events of historic importance • Court cases that afforded women more opportunities and opened doors that were previously slammed shut • 1965- Weeks V. Southern Bell- opens many jobs to women that were previously only for men • 1965- Griswold V. Connecticut- Supreme Court overturns last laws that prohibit the use of contraceptives by married couples • 1968- Executive Order 11246- ends sex discrimination by government contractors and requires affirmative action for hiring women • 1969- Bowe V. Palmolive-Colgate Company- states that if women meet the physical requirements, they would be allowed to work in jobs that were meant specifically for women

5. Feminist art • It has been debated by many art historians on whether Feminist Art was actually a movement or not. What has been decided is that is that it is not really a style but a way of creating art • Most female artists during this time were not recognized for their art until later on in the 20th Century

6. Feminist art Lee Krasner was a famous Abstract Expressionist of this time period, however, she was more remembered for helping her husband, Jackson Pollock, even though her work was seen as less messy and more intellectual than his, Krasner was not given much recognition until she was later rediscovered ("Bird Talk")

7. Impact of women’s education • Now that women were allowed to seek higher education in post secondary schools, this had a huge impact on their roles in life • By 1964-1969, women were 40% of the college population • Birth control used more frequently, less children, less years in childcare • Divorce rates double

8. Women in sports • Donna De Varona, in 1965, becomes the first woman sports broadcaster on national TV, on ABC. Also founder of the Woman’s Sports Foundation • In 1966, the first intercollegiate basketball game played for the first time • Katherine Switzer, first woman to run in the all-male Boston Marathon in 1967

9. Fashion!!! • Bikinis became really popular during this time, leading to topless sunbathing • Skirts were getting shorter and shorter but it was not until Mary Quant, when the miniskirt revolutionized • Yves Saint Laurent came out with trouser suits in 1966 • 1968 began the “Hippie Movement”

10. Women in military In 1967, Congress voted to allow women to move higher up in ranks and lifted the two percent ceiling on women’s military strength ("President John Signing”)

11. Women in politics • Barbara Castle, in 1965, became Minister of Transport and became the first female Secretary of State • In 1966, Indira Gandhi became the first elected female Prime Minister, becoming the first woman to lead a democracy

12. Woman scientist • Jocelyn Bell Burnell, in 1967, discovered the first pulsar (stars that release intervals of radio waves)

13. Women’s rights, in summary • All this, though it made a huge impact at the time, and opened many doors for women in a lot more areas than they were previously confined to, this was only just the beginning. • Even still today, though women have come a mighty long way, they are still fighting to have the same exact rights as men, and this battle will continue to ensue until that most elusive goal is reached.

14. Works cited "The 1960's." Kyrene School District - Redirect. Web. 18 July 2011. <http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/decade/1960.htm>. "Gale - Free Resources - Women's History - Biographies - Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell." Gale - Home. Web. 18 July 2011. <http://www.gale.cengage.com/free_resources/whm/bio/bellburnell_s.htm>. "History of Women in Sports Timeline - Part 4 - 1960-1979." New Page 1. Web. 18 July 2011. <http://www.northnet.org/stlawrenceaauw/timelne4.htm>.

15. Works cited Horsley, Carter B. "Art/Auctions: Lee Krasner at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Des Moines Art Center, the Akron Art Museum and the Brooklyn Museum of Art, 1999-2001." Http://www.thecityreview.com. Web. 18 July 2011. <http://www.thecityreview.com/krasner.html>. “IndiraGandhi." King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA - 1-888-KINGS-PA. Web. 18 July 2011. <http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/igandhi.html>. KathrineSwitzer, the First Woman to Officially Enter and Run the Boston Marathon. Web. 18 July 2011. <http://www.kathrineswitzer.com/>.

16. Works cited "Legacy '98: Detailed Timeline." Living the Legacy 1848-1998. Web. 18 July 2011. <http://www.legacy98.org/timeline.html#1961>. "NOW - Who We Are." National Organization for Women (NOW). Web. 18 July 2011. <http://now.org/history/history.html>. "Women in the US Military - 1960s." Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media. Web. 18 July 2011. <http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/rr/s01/cw/students/leeann/historyandcollections/history/lrnmre1960s.html>.