The Different Views Of Societys Diverse People

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Women in the post-WWII America fought against the stereotypes of the perfect housewife and fought for reform in the workforce for equal rights as well as voicing their opinion on birth control and abortion. Women in the 1960’s civil rights movement created different organizations such as the National Organization for Women (NOW) or New York Radical Women, sparking much controversy in society. After World War II, many women held jobs and were expected to go back to being an at home rather than working. Women joined into different groups such as NOW that fought for equal rights in the work place such as equal pay. Founders of NOW, Betty Friedan and Pauli Murray wrote NOW’s Statement of Purpose, for a conference in Washington D.C. on October 29, 1966, she states, "The purpose of NOW is to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all the privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men". The NOW organization deals with issues of inequality in workforce or any areas in society that see women as unequal in power to men. The organization states that the fight for equal privileges and responsibilities to be an active member of society. Ms. Friedan also states, "WE BELIEVE that the power of American law, and the protection guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution to the civil rights of all individuals, must be effectively applied and enforced to isolate and remove patterns of sex discrimination, to ensure equality of opportunity in employment and education, and equality of civil and political rights and responsibilities on behalf of women, as well as for Negroes and other deprived groups". In this statement NOW points out that American law should protect the rights of all individuals regardless of sex. In society women have been discriminated against because of their sex in the workforce and education systems have been seen as less than men. The organizations goals are to target these stereotypes and eliminate any discrimination for equal rights of women and any other minority groups. Women such as the founder of NOW wrote a book called "Feminine Mystique" which she discussed the issues of the stereotype of women being a housewife and being limited by society by this image. She expressed her anguish toward this stereotype and voiced her thoughts on the topic claiming men manipulate the image of a happy wife also known as the ‘feminine mystique’ through media and that many women are enclosed to studying only aspects of being a "housewife" such as seen through education. In women’s schools, curriculums are not as challenging and focus on family, marriage, and others things that women should focus on. The idea of a housewife was a stereotype that women throughout the United States went against, wanting more educational opportunities and government involvement for women. The 1960’s was a period of change and reform for society and its view on women as the weaker sex.

While many women of Post-World War II wanted to change the stereotype of the ‘feminine mystique’, many women took to protest and created different organizations that held conferences to eliminate inequality in society. Similar to Betty Friedan, who wrote her book "Feminine Mystique", it became a very popular book that pushed the limits of what women could say and challenged the stereotype. Women also protested against things that defined women by beauty expectations represented in the "Miss America Protest" or the "Freedom Trash Can" at the Atlanta City, Miss America Pageant on September 7, 1968. The New York Radical Women organization organized s group of 400 feminists to throw away women’s products such as fake eyelashes, mops, brooms, bras, heels. The feminists marched in protest, singing chants, handed out pamphlets and flyers, as well as crowning a sheep ‘Miss America’ symbolizing women as being similar to livestock at a county fair. Also this event started the very famous "Bra Burning", which became a symbol for the Women’s Rights Movement. Along with the protest, the organization NOW wrote a Bill of Rights, which was presented at their 1968 conference discussing the eight rights women should and be able to acquire such as the right for women to decide reproduction such as birth control or abortion, as well as demanding Congress to pass the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, allowing women to have equal rights under the law and not to be denied any rights based on their sex. This would include having equal opportunities in education and not be denied the right to go to college to achieve a higher education. Women continued to constantly fight for their rights and the privileges that they demanded.

With the persistence of the Women’s Rights Movement, change came shortly after with results including reform in education and government restricting women from exceeding to their full potential. During the 1960’s federal laws were changed and added such as the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Civil Rights Act of 1964. With the intensity feminists attacked the issue of women stereotypes, change came quickly with satisfying results. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was a law that required equal pay for men and women who did the same work or held the same position. Also in 1964, the Civil Rights Act, Title VI, was passed which prohibited employers to discriminate women who had a company of 25 or more employers. It was also added in 1968 the Equal Credit Opportunity Act that made it illegal for any creditor to discriminate an applicant for a credit transaction based on sex, age, or marriage status. As the women organization, NOW continued, they persistently charged at congress to pass the Equal Rights Amendment into the Constitution. With the women’s effort, in 1972, Congress approved the Amendment and was ratified by 28 states. Although Congress had approved the Amendment, the Bill was not included in the Constitution and the NOW organization continues to fight to add this into the Constitution. The women’s rights movement created much controversy among society and causing media frenzy throughout the United States. Women used strikes and protested against the unfair ways of discrimination against women and in the end, the results were monumental and even today women continue to fight on.

Not only were the women’s civil rights movements taking flight in the 1960’s but the Mexican-American movement created much turmoil, testing the limits of the law. Mexican-Americans wanted reform in education and the workforce, later on creating the Chicano Movement, and Mexican-American Organizations throughout the United States which raised awareness upon rising issues. The Chicano movement was an organization to bring power to the Mexican-Americans living in the United States. This movement addressed the negative stereotypes of Mexican-Americans as well as discrimination and racism in American society. Leaders such as Cesar Chavez appeared from these movements, representing the Mexican-American farm workers fighting for better pay and working conditions. Some of the Hispanic issues that were being raised were addressed in a speech given by Cesar Chavez at the Commonwealth Club of California on November 9, 1984. Cesar Chavez highlighted the safety of farm workers, including pesticide concerns for the workers, and child labor. In his address he states, "All my life, I have been driven by one dream, one goal, one vision: to overthrow a farm labor system in this nation that treats farm workers as if they were not important human beings. Farm workers are not agricultural implements; they are not beasts of burden to be used and discarded". Cesar Chavez became leader of the United Farm Workers and supported other Mexican-American groups to eliminate discrimination for farm workers and fought for better working conditions for farmers. As pointed out in the Address, the United Farm Workers wanted to be treated fairly and wanted to overthrow the labor system which treats the workers horribly. Along with addressing horrible working conditions for farm workers and bringing light to the many issues the labor system had, the Chicano movement had stirred up different groups to appear such as the Mexican-American Youth Organization (MAYO). These rising movements brought up issues such as education and lack of voting rights among Hispanics. These organizations were led by young Mexican-Americans looking for change in these areas, hosting protests and strikes. With bright young members taking part in the Chicano movement, many Mexican-American students at universities as well as high schools demanded for these schools to include Mexican-American history courses and wanted Hispanic teachers and counselors. The Mexican-American movement paved way for new reforms in the fields and schools.

The Mexican-American movement included the Chicano movement that used protests and strikes to grab the people’s attention to bring reform to the conditions of which farm workers lived by and reforms in school education for Hispanics. In order for these organizations to bring light to these issues, organizations like (MECha) Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, helped create a new ways to demand reform in schools through "walk outs". This organization was one of the first to create these walk outs in high schools as well as in universities. On March 5, 1968, Chicano students walked out of high schools and middle schools throughout East Los Angeles, in protest of schools not allowing the students to speak Spanish in classrooms. These students in protest, walked out of their schools and would march, singing chants in front of the schools, demanding change in the school systems. Along with the strikes at the schools, one of the most significant strikes to provide better working conditions for workers was the Delano Grape Strike. This strike began on September 8, 1965, led by the United Farm Workers, against grape growers in Delano, California. The group led my Cesar Chavez led boycotts during the grape harvest and picketed around the docks of loading the grape shipments. Their group persuaded the people loading the shipments, and thousands of cases of grapes spoiled and rotted. With the pressure from the protesting workers, the farm workers were able to receive higher wages and better working conditions. With the different protests, Mexican-American workers were able to bring reform to the wages and working conditions of farm workers and in schools were able to create Mexican-American courses into schools as well as provide a more diverse staff by introducing Hispanic counselors and teachers. The protest and fight for reform brought many positive changes for the Mexican-Americans that eliminated any negative stereotypes for future generations.

Although both Women and Mexican-Americans had different methods in fighting for reform in society, both groups fought for similar goals in eliminating discrimination in society and improvement in education and empowerment of women and Mexican-Americans. Both civil rights groups longed for reform in society’s views on each group and used different methods to achieve their goals. Women created conferences through different organizations such as NOW and used public protest such as the Miss American competition trying to eliminate the stereotype of women being only a housewife. The Mexican-American movements took on actions based on education and used "walk outs" to highlight the issues in the education system. Although both had different methods, both groups had similar goals to eliminate negative stereotypes such as women wanting to eliminate the idea that women’s only purpose was to attend to the house and take care of the family. Women in Post-World War II America had started working jobs and many women were discriminated in the workforce because of their sex. Many of these women would receive lower wages then men similarly as did Mexican-Americans. Hispanic farm workers in Post-World War II were treated unfairly and as well given low wages and often had to work in horrible conditions. Mexican-Americans were discriminated in schools and the schools would not offer any Mexican-American history courses or would hire any Hispanic teachers or counselors. Along with fighting for equality amongst others, Women and Mexican-Americans established different organizations that helped them become more empowered and motivated. During that time, women would not complete high school or college and would only take upon courses that related to family or marriage. These courses or the lack of difficult courses offered to women did not challenge them. Women wanted to become more involved and these organizations gave women the ability to explore and be accepted in to society taking on jobs in the government. Same as women, Mexican-Americans as well wanted to become more involved. At the time, many Hispanics were high school drop outs and many did not finish schooling. With the support of these organizations, more Hispanics got involved in politics and government. The Mexican-Americans wanted to erase this negative stereotype and today can be seen through the diversity in government positions.

Women and Mexican-American fought for similar civil rights against the stereotypes of American society. Women fought for the right of equal pay and fought against the stereotype of the woman being the housewife. Women wanted equal rights as men had and gained success through their persistent protest for such rights. Similar to Mexican-Americans, this group fought to eliminate negative stereotypes and tried to create better conditions for farm workers. Along with creating better working conditions, this movement encouraged Hispanics to finish school and become more involved in government and other aspects of society. Although both Women and Mexican-Americans used different forms of protest, both wanted to eliminated negative stereotypes and focus on reforms for equality in the workforce and society.