Women's Rights In The 1960s And 70s

During the 1960s and 70s, many social and political groups acted on a reform for change. Many groups used numerous ways of protest in order to spread the word of their want for change during this time period. Two specific groups that especially achieved change were women and African Americans. Within these decades, both groups went from having little political and social equity to being almost equal. Both African Americans and women achieved political and social equity during this time frame due to the Civil Rights and Feminist movement, which allowed for the expansion of rights for both groups. Within this time frame, African Americans made exponential growth within their social and equitable rights. One significant reasoning for this achievement was the Civil Rights movement. During this movement, individuals of all races participated in order for African Americans to gain rights in the United States. Although the 14th and 15th amendments allowed African Americans to be protected under the law, there was still much racism and segregation was prominent in the post-war

Known as the “Second Wave Feminism Movement”, many individuals targeted the areas of equality and discrimination. These included rights within reproductive health, the wage gap, and harassment within the workplace. Unlike the Women’s Suffrage Movement of the 1920s, women in the 60s and 70s felt the need for a more liberating movement. They had many of the same ideals as the CIvil Rights Movement, using sit-ins, marches and picketing protests. This movement also ultimately led to the expansion of many rights for women. The Equal Pay Act of 1965 insured women that they would be paid equally within the workplace. The passing of Roe v. Wade in 1973 was also crucial to the growth of women’s rights, since it protected the rights of a woman having an abortion within the United