American Women Rights History
Introduction
World War II was fought between the years 1939-1945. It led to massive destruction of properties and many people were killed during the war period that lasted for six years. The war brought a lot of challenges to the entire population of the Americans and the only way America was to succeed in the battle, was only possible if more women were recruited in the industry. The American government had a desire for their women to be in a position to build planes, tanks and even ships that were used to transport soldiers to war zones. So they had to come up with a strategy to lure them to play mens roles.
Initiating American women to do industrial duties
The American government was so smart to make the women active on their duties they urged them to join the labor force telling them that it was their patriotic duty to defend the State and the only way they could do that was by working in the industries. However, loyalty to the State was not the only incentive that was being used by the government to lure women into the work force but they also adopted other means (Freedman 2003). For instance, they formed a commission known as the War Man Power Commission and their basic ideal behind the formation was to deceive the women that the commission was formed to improve their economic status in the society and to ensure that their husbands and sons were well fed in the war zones to reduce death cases that were related to poverty or hunger. In return, they worked so hard and improved the economic standard of the government. In some, cases the government could even come up with adverts or posters to lure women to join industrial jobs and forget the traditional roles of women as it could improve their economic activities.
According to Gatlin (1987), women were constantly being reminded that their husbands, sons, and brothers were in danger because they were not receiving the supplies they needed. The government used several slogans to convince the women on the relevance of their role (industrial) in the society such as, Victory is in Your Hands, We can do it And Women the war needs you were all used to convince women that their countrys needs were more important than their individual comfort.
Economic shift and social impacts
As a result of the propaganda, American women, whether patriotism, economic benefits or independence, they were naturally motivated to join the industry. In July 1944, when the war was at its peak, over 19 million women were employed in the United States, more than ever before. As a result, the economic status of the women improved to a small margin as compared to the government.
However, applying for a job was not necessarily as easy as it appeared to be, some factors were taken into consideration and most women that were employed were taken from rural areas as they could work cheaply and faster as compared to the urban women that were weak and could not do heavy industrial duties. As a result, rural women became more empowered economically and migrated from rural areas to urban centers where industries were situated. While their boys were fighting for equality and human rights abroad, American women were getting discriminated against at home.
Women and Employment
Though according to Hooks (2000), women were turning out for jobs at alarming rates, many employers refused to hire them, even though they had met labor requirements. Some employers out rightly refused to hire women, while others set unreasonably low hiring quotas for women. Most people believed that men should be the sole breadwinners in the family, and as a result women were among the last hired in the early stages of the war. Though several million women were hired, they were not necessarily treated the same as their male counterparts.
Equality at Work
In 1942, the National War Labor Board (NWLB) attempted to erase some of the long standing inequalities in womens pay, when they decided to employ an equal pay principle. Most employers thought that the traditional womens pay scale was acceptable, and some reasoned that there was no need to make womens pay comparable to mens since they argued that womens work was lighter as compared to men and did not deserve to earn more or same amount of money with men. But this was far from the case. Women who joined the labor force as a result of World War II were often referred to as production soldiers.
Their standard workweek was 48 hours, though many women frequently worked overtime, Sunday was their only day off, and most vacations and holidays were cancelled just to ensure that their productivity was maximized. Even though they were not forced to work like slaves women of all ages operated large cranes, which were used to move heavy tanks and artillery. Some women loaded and fired machine guns and other weapons to make sure they worked. Other women operated hydraulic presses, while some worked as volunteer fire fighters. Some women, who formerly worked as saleswomen, maids, or waitresses, took over more essential jobs such as welders, riveters, drill press operators, and taxi cab drivers.
Women found themselves participating in every aspect of the war industry from making military clothing to building fighter jets. American women worked day and night and as a result, there was a great impact on the American economy. Many women who got employed were expected to work extra time and made items such as cloths, jets and offered economic services such as operating machines that produced goods that were sold to other parts of the world hence improving economic status of the State.
Feminism and Equality
The term feminism refers to the protection of womens political, economic and social aspects in ensuring gender equality in opportunities, payments, voting rights, sexual harassment and social roles and can therefore be termed as a political philosophy word. However, women agitate for different things in the society depending on how the society treats the women and divide the roles.
According to Echols (1989), feminism began like a waveeuphoria and many women in America by the 18th century were out to defend their rights in political, social and economic imbalance in the society. During the revolutionary war of America, most women were neither counted nor allowed to vote and therefore were denied their fundamental rights and freedom hence leading to initiation of the first wave of feminism in 18th century through early 20th century.
This was because the women in America felt that they were dominated by men and the wave began as a result of the inequalities especially political inequality that denied them the right to vote and to express their opinion. In fact, most women were not allowed to participate in any form of leadership and were not counted during population censures.
Experiences of the First wave of 1950s and the Impact during the Second Wave
The move by the Women to oppose bad policies in their first attempt resulted to several notable changes both politically and socially. The community and the government began to realize the need to accommodate women in several activities. According to Freedman (2003), the movement expanded to different countries and some people especially women leaders from the United States like Elizabeth Cady and Susan Anthony diverted their interest in campaigning against slavery and started to champion womens rights, including the right to vote that they considered fundamental in proper governance.
The right to vote among women was not just abolished in America but was also practiced in Britain, the former colony of America. Most women from Britain came out strongly in opposing government policy on their voting rights. It is also worth noting that the first wave involved so many women leaders such as Lucy Stone, Hellen Pitts and Olympia Brown, all belonged to conservative Christian groups.
Second Wave of Feminism
As a result of the radicalism that was initiated by the women leaders second wave came in place and was more concerned with Gender inequality and culture. However, the need to seek for more freedom came as a result of the first wave. The second wave was marked by some eminent figures such as Simone de Beauvoir, who came with a slogan to portray women as less important in the society. The slogan, the other made many women to seek for equality and respect in the society.
According to Echols (1989), the second wave lasted for a long period from 1960s until towards the end of 1980s. Most people still believe that the second wave lasted for a longer period. Women scholars such as Betty Friedan wrote a book on the feminine Mystique that was passionate and opposed inequality and sexual harassment of women in America and some parts of the world.
During the second wave, feminists campaigned against cultural and political inequalities that were being embraced by the system and focused on the universal suffrage which became synonymous with the first wave but was more concerned with issues that could enable women realize their social and political rights and privileges.
Negative Impact of the Second World War on the Role of Women
As a result of the Second World War, most women were forced by circumstances to join industrial labor and abandoned the central role of women in the society. They were trained and equipped to play the new roles with an aim of changing their way of life. However, after the end of Second World War in 1945, most of the employers retrenched most of their workers and brought in men whom they believed could wok better as compared to women in the industry.
According to Hochschild (2003), the end of the war and the return of men made many women frustrated and replaced in their duties except the ones that were doing white color jobs that did not require a lot of energy. Some women that had already learnt how to operate the machines became frustrated since they were now forced to serve as second class workers who had no say. Some who became dissatisfied resigned and went back to their homes to do farming since the employers decided to under pay them as compared to men.
Why the lives of women become confined to the private sphere once again during the 1950s
After the end of Second World War, women life became so complicated as a result of the orientation they were given in the absence of their husbands. They played major roles in production and other formal duties that greatly influenced their way of thinking and working. They gained the same skills as men and felt that they were now equal with men since they argued that they could perform other roles apart from traditional roles as it was before the Second World War.
This made most of them to separate with their husbands and some started to fight for women freedom especially towards the end of 1950s when the second feminism movement was at its infant stage and the first wave was giving way for more women demands by agitating for equality in the society.
Why there was a backlash against the ideals of the second wave of feminism
The ideals that were being promoted by earlier feminists were replaced by the new Womens Rights Movement that was composed of liberals, radicals and moderate women who came out openly to defend the rights of women and equality. The movement began in early 1968 and gained momentum in 1970 just two years after its formation and surprised most people as they protested against Miss America pageant and towards the end of 1970, the women organized a major strike to seek for constitutional amendments, though the republican government was opposed to it.
As a result, most women that were Pro-life women resigned and organized feminists for life that was against the legislation opposing abortion. Even though the election of Richard Nixon was opposed by most feminists, according to Hooks (2000), Nixon was so passionate about the rights of women especially on employment he strongly supported Equal Rights Amendments and signed it into law in 1972.
The ideals were more relevant in ensuring that the fundamental rights and freedom of the women were achieved at the end. The major reason why most people especially men were against the idea of ensuring equality in the society especially during the second wave of feminism was because men were becoming more insecure and feared that their authoritative nature would be easily challenged by the women hence opposed the move to ensure equality in the society.
Aspects of an ideal Woman
During the liberation movement of 1964 when most women became more cautious on their rights and freedom from violation, they had specific objective to fulfill especially during the second wave of liberation. They wanted cultural transformation that could enable them enjoy other rights and freedom that they were denied by the constitution. The movement involved so many women from different race, color, sexual orientation and Nations.
Social Changes
However, there has been tremendous changes that has taken place and the prime ideals that women were agitating for has changed gradually as the number of women divorcing their husbands is on the rise as a result of demanding equality and recognition in the society. To the advantage of most women especially from Western part of the world according to Gatlin (1987), they became more vocal in political views. As a result, their rights were realized both in the constitution and in the society thereby increasing equality in work place, enhancing reproductive rights and giving hope to the oppressed and hopeless women in the society. It is therefore true that feminism movement especially the second face made a lot of positive impacts in realization of equality rights and in ensuring that the rights of women is protected in the constitution.
Conclusion
The fight and demand for changes in roles and duties can be traced after the Second World War, when most women were lured to perform mens role in the industries making them to gain both economic and industrial power in the society. However, major changes in employment took place after the end of the Second World War, as they were replaced by men leading to the formation of feminism movement to fight for equality in different sectors such as wages, recruitment and respect. However, feminism ideals both in the first and second wave was full of radicalism and demands that could not be realized easily or implemented by the government leading to strike and demonstration. As a result, it made the government to realize the need for equality in different aspects for instance, employment amendment that was signed by President Richard Nixon in 1972. It is worth noting that the second feminism had a lot of impact in the society, as there was a positive shift of roles in several places, men felt their natural rights were being violated by women, leading to antagonism.
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