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Pittsburgh Womens Movement

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Pittsburgh Womens Movement
The Pittsburgh Women’s Movement
“The term feminism can be used to describe a political, cultural or economic movement aimed at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women” (“History and Theory of Feminism, n.d.). “Feminism involves political and sociological theories and philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference, as well as a movement that advocates gender equality for women and campaigns for women's rights and interests” (“History and Theory of Feminism, n.d.). In this essay the 1968 Pittsburgh Women’s Movement is going to be further discussed as well as its impact on Pittsburgh and women in the business world.
Background on the Pittsburgh Women’s Movement
“Pittsburgh's role in the struggle for women's rights in …show more content…
Wilma Scott Heide was fascinated by her case and decided to try and recruit Cindy to become a founding member of the Greater Pittsburgh Area Chapter of NOW. Cindy Hill was developing this case because she had reached her max salary potential at the school. Therefore, she requested sabbatical from her teaching job in order to earn her Master’s degree. Hill completed her degree, however was fired by the school district after having her baby while on sabbatical (Ulbrich, 2010). The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a front-page story about the public hearing with a picture of her and her baby for everyone to see. After this, Hill gained support by not only feminist, but also by state and national levels. Wilma Scott Heide arranged for Hill to attend the annual NOW conference where she addressed a national audience. Betty Friedan, NOW’s president, held a news conference to announce the organization’s support of the case and the Pennsylvania State Education Association provided financial assistance for legal counsel. In August of 1968, the County Court Judge Bengamin Lencher ruled that Valley School District must reinstate Hill for the fall term. Cindy Hill’s experience became symbolic for women’s employment in Pittsburgh (Ulbrich, …show more content…
Following the leadership of blacks “sitting in” at segregated dining counters, women also began challenging authorities and demanding equal treatment (Ulbrich, 2010).
One example of this was the Stouffer’s restaurant in Oakland. At this restaurant men’s dining rooms were separate from the women. Men’s dining rooms were a symbol of male bonding, while women had to wait to be seated in a public area. Pittsburgh NOW members identified this restaurant as a target and fought against it. Members developed multiple tactics to protest this restaurants practice. First, Heide met with the manager of the Stouffer’s who explained the policy came from higher management and “that sometimes women were allowed but generally they preferred not to sit in the men’s section because of the possibility of bad language.” Following, NOW decided to write the manager of the Stouffer’s chain protesting a males-only dining room. That eventually made its way to the Pittsburgh Press where Heide’s comments were displayed for everyone to see (Ulbrich,
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