Social Movements and Genders

Social Movements and Gender Paper

Steve Lawrence

University of Phoenix

Social Movements and Gender Paper

Introduction

There are many events and social movements that have significantly affected public opinion on gender issues. These social movements have all contributed to what America is and stands for today. There have been hundreds of different social movements perused in the United States throughout history. This paper will address three of them; Women’s Suffrage Movement, the social shift of gender roles during WWII, and the Hippie Movement. All three of these events played crucial roles in sculpting the face of society as it is today.

Women’s Suffrage The women’s suffrage movement was a movement started in Colonial America in 1756 in Uxbridge Massachusetts. The movement’s main purpose was to permit women to be able to vote and run for office just as men did. They wanted to be thought of as equals. It was a long fought battle that lasted from 1756 to 1920 when women where finally given the right to vote. Until 1920, the social environment during the women’s suffrage movement was very volatile. The popular majority saw women as nothing more than baby-makers and care-givers. This movement over time was able to change the social viewpoint of the country about women. When women were granted the right to vote, it made people rethink the worth of women in society. They went from baby-makers and care-givers to contributing members of society. With women having the power to vote, politicians now had to listen to the opinions of women and do right by them in order to try to gain their votes. The television show, Boardwalk Empire depicts this movement and the social environment of the times pretty accurately. This movement not only made leaps and bounds for women in society but also for the African American society who faced continued racism and segregation.

WWII In 1939 WWII started. As the war progressed the United States had to step in and try to stop Hitler from the genocide that he had created. The U.S. military first got involved in 1941. With this war came social changes that would change the social landscape of America. Hundreds of thousands of American men volunteered and were drafted into the war. This caused a major gender role reversal in the country. In the forties America was almost a completely self-reliable nation. Almost everything Americans consumed and used was made in and cultivated inside the country. When the men went off to war, this left a huge void in the American workforce. Many companies went out of business. The ones that stayed afloat where predominantly run and operated by the American women that were left behind. “Between 1940 and 1945, the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and by 1945 nearly one out of every four married women worked outside the home.”Rosie the Riveter," star of a government campaign, aimed at recruiting female workers for the munitions industry and factory jobs became perhaps the most iconic image of working women during the war”(“Rosie the Riveter”, 2012). During the forties baseball was considered the most popular sport in America and it was nicknamed “America’s pastime”. Women were not only depended on for the most important jobs in the in the country but also for entertainment. The majority of pro baseball players went to fight in WWII. Some of the most famous one include; Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, and Lou Gehrig. The movie A League of Their Own shows the exact atmosphere of sports and society in America during WWII. The way women stepped up for the country during it’s time of need helped to change the minds of society. People could no longer look at women as the weaker sex. This social movement laid the foundation for the strong woman presence of today’s workforce.

Hippie Movement The hippie movement was started as a result of a culmination of events. Civil right issues for blacks where bubbling, the Vietnam War was starting, and the brand new president, JFK, was shot. JFK was thought to be the savior of the country and America was on its way to a new golden age. When JFK was shot the country started going downhill. Instead of a golden age, it was heading for collapse. The country was in turmoil so many people found refuge within the hippie movement. Hippie culture was all about anti-government, freedom of oppression, peace, and love. The hippies believed in non conformity and their right to make their own decisions. Along with this came the right for women to make choices about their bodies without the judgment of society. Social issues such as contraception, abortion, and promiscuity where among the topics of the day. American society in the sixties was largely very conservative. The hippies believed in a more care-free and liberal way of life. “These “hippies” grew their hair long and practiced “free love.” Some moved to communes, away from the turbulence that had come to define everyday life in the sixties” ("The 1960'S", 2012). Through the Hippie movement came many changes. Among the changes were; many civil liberties, a change in societal culture, and gender equality. The Hippie movement contributed to today’s society by paving the way for open-mindedness and peace.

Conclusion Even today in these times of uncertainty, America is still one of the greatest countries in the world. Each one of the social movements previously listed, significantly contributed to shaping the American culture and society as it is today. The civil liberties and freedoms currently enjoyed by Americans and women in America did not just come to be. There were countless battles fought and many things sacrificed by pioneers along the way. There is still plenty of room for improvement in America and there is sure to be more social movements as things happen and societal cultures change.

Reference:
Ivy, D. K., & Backlund, P. (2008). Gender Speak (2nd ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.
Rosie the Riveter. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/rosie-the-riveter
The 1960's. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/1960s

[pic]Turnitin Originality Report

Week 1 Genders by Steve Lawrence

From Public Papers - 2012-02-27 19:36:16.861437-08 (Phoenix/Axia)

• Processed on 27-Feb-2012 10:15 PM CST • ID: 232156587 • Word Count: 1014 Similarity Index

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sources:

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http://www.history.com/topics/rosie-the-riveter

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http://www.history.com/topics/1960s

paper text:

Social Movements and Gender Paper Steve Lawrence University of Phoenix Social Movements and Gender Paper Introduction There are many events and social movements that have significantly affected public opinion on gender issues. These social movements have all contributed to what America is and stands for today. There have been hundreds of different social movements perused in the United States throughout history. This paper will address three of them; Women’s Suffrage Movement, the social shift of gender roles during WWII, and the Hippie Movement. All three of these events played crucial roles in sculpting the face of society as it is today. Women’s Suffrage The women’s suffrage movement was a movement started in Colonial America in 1756 in Uxbridge Massachusetts. The movement’s main purpose was to permit women to be able to vote and run for office just as men did. They wanted to be thought of as equals. It was a long fought battle that lasted from 1756 to 1920 when women where finally given the right to vote. Until 1920, the social environment during the women’s suffrage movement was very volatile. The popular majority saw women as nothing more than baby-makers and care-givers. This movement over time was able to change the social viewpoint of the country about women. When women were granted the right to vote, it made people rethink the worth of women in society. They went from baby-makers and care-givers to contributing members of society. With women having the power to vote, politicians now had to listen to the opinions of women and do right by them in order to try to gain their votes. The television show, Boardwalk Empire depicts this movement and the social environment of the times pretty accurately. This movement not only made leaps and bounds for women in society but also for the African American society who faced continued racism and segregation. WWII In 1939 WWII started. As the war progressed the United States had to step in and try to stop Hitler from the genocide that he had created. The U.S. military first got involved in 1941. With this war came social changes that would change the social landscape of America. Hundreds of thousands of American men volunteered and were drafted into the war. This caused a major gender role reversal in the country. In the forties America was almost a completely self-reliable nation. Almost everything Americans consumed and used was made in and cultivated inside the country. When the men went off to war, this left a huge void in the American workforce. Many companies went out of business. The ones that stayed afloat where predominantly run and operated by the American women that were left behind. “Between 1940 and 1945, the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and by 1945 nearly one out of every four married women worked outside the home 1.”Rosie the Riveter," star of a government campaign, aimed at recruiting female workers for the munitions industry and factory jobs became perhaps the most iconic image of working women during the war”(“ Rosie the Riveter”, 2012). During the forties baseball was considered the most popular sport in America and it was nicknamed “America’s pastime”. Women were not only depended on for the most important jobs in the in the country but also for entertainment. The majority of pro baseball players went to fight in WWII. Some of the most famous one include; Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, and Lou Gehrig. The movie A League of Their Own shows the exact atmosphere of sports and society in America during WWII. The way women stepped up for the country during it’s time of need helped to change the minds of society. People could no longer look at women as the weaker sex. This social movement laid the foundation for the strong woman presence of today’s workforce. Hippie Movement The hippie movement was started as a result of a culmination of events. Civil right issues for blacks where bubbling, the Vietnam War was starting, and the brand new president, JFK, was shot. JFK was thought to be the savior of the country and America was on its way to a new golden age. When JFK was shot the country started going downhill. Instead of a golden age, it was heading for collapse. The country was in turmoil so many people found refuge within the hippie movement. Hippie culture was all about anti-government, freedom of oppression, peace, and love. The hippies believed in non conformity and their right to make their own decisions. Along with this came the right for women to make choices about their bodies without the judgment of society. Social issues such as contraception, abortion, and promiscuity where among the topics of the day. American society in the sixties was largely very conservative. The hippies believed in a more care-free and liberal way of life. 2“These“hippies” grew their hair long and practiced“free love.” Some moved to communes, away from the turbulence that had come to define everyday life in the sixties” ("The 1960'S", 2012). Through the Hippie movement came many changes. Among the changes were; many civil liberties, a change in societal culture, and gender equality. The Hippie movement contributed to today’s society by paving the way for open-mindedness and peace. Conclusion Even today in these times of uncertainty, America is still one of the greatest countries in the world. Each one of the social movements previously listed, significantly contributed to shaping the American culture and society as it is today. The civil liberties and freedoms currently enjoyed by Americans and women in America did not just come to be. There were countless battles fought and many things sacrificed by pioneers along the way. There is still plenty of room for improvement in America and there is sure to be more social movements as things happen and societal cultures change. Reference: Ivy, D. K., & Backlund, P. (2008). Gender Speak (2nd ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Rosie the Riveter. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/rosie-the-riveter The 1960's. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/1960s Social Movements and Gender Paper 1 Social Movements and Gender Paper 2 Social Movements and Gender Paper 3 Social Movements and Gender Paper 4 Social Movements and Gender Paper 5 Social Movements and Gender Paper 6 Social Movements and Gender Paper 7