🙋🏽‍♀️Gender in Modern American History Unit 10 – Gender & the Sexual Revolution

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Sexual revolution a period of changing attitudes and behaviors related to sexuality and relationships that began in the 1960s
• Second-wave feminism a period of feminist activity and thought that began in the United States in the early 1960s and lasted through the late 1980s
  • Focused on issues of equality and discrimination
• Birth control pill first oral contraceptive introduced in 1960, gave women more control over their reproductive choices
• Sexual liberation the idea that sexual activity and expression should be free from social, legal, and religious restrictions
• Stonewall riots series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community in response to a police raid that began on June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York City
• Heteronormativity the belief that heterosexuality is the default, preferred, or normal mode of sexual orientation
• Sexism prejudice or discrimination based on sex or gender, especially against women and girls

Historical Context

• Post-World War II era marked by economic prosperity, suburbanization, and the baby boom generation in the United States
• Cold War tensions and the threat of nuclear war led to a focus on traditional gender roles and family structures
  • Women were encouraged to embrace domesticity and motherhood
• Civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s challenged racial segregation and discrimination, inspiring other social movements
• Women's rights movement gained momentum in the 1960s, building on the work of earlier suffragists and activists
• Sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s challenged traditional views on sexuality, relationships, and gender roles
  • Influenced by the availability of the birth control pill, changing social norms, and the counterculture movement
• Stonewall riots of 1969 marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility
• Feminist literature and activism, such as Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique" (1963), challenged the limitations placed on women's roles in society

Major Figures and Movements

• Betty Friedan author of "The Feminine Mystique" (1963), which criticized the idea that women could only find fulfillment through housework and motherhood
  • Co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966
• Gloria Steinem prominent feminist journalist and activist, co-founded Ms. magazine in 1972
• Simone de Beauvoir French writer, intellectual, and feminist, author of "The Second Sex" (1949)
• Daughters of Bilitis the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States, founded in 1955
• Mattachine Society one of the earliest gay rights organizations in the United States, founded in 1950
• Alfred Kinsey American biologist and sexologist, known for his research on human sexuality and the Kinsey Reports (1948 and 1953)
• Masters and Johnson American sexologists who pioneered research into the nature of human sexual response and the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders and dysfunctions
• Griswold v. Connecticut 1965 Supreme Court case that struck down a Connecticut law prohibiting the use of contraceptives, establishing a right to privacy

Societal Changes and Impacts

• Increased acceptance of premarital sex, cohabitation, and divorce
  • Divorce rates doubled between 1960 and 1980
• Greater access to birth control and family planning services
  • Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) legalized contraception for married couples
• Women's increased participation in the workforce and higher education
  • The percentage of women in the labor force increased from 37.7% in 1960 to 51.5% in 1980
• Challenges to traditional gender roles and expectations
  • More women sought careers outside the home and delayed marriage and childbearing
• Growing visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities
  • Gay Pride events and parades became more common in major cities
• Emergence of the "sexual marketplace" and the commodification of sex
  • The adult entertainment industry grew, and sex became more visible in popular culture
• Backlash against the sexual revolution and the rise of conservative social movements
  • Religious and conservative groups opposed the changes in sexual attitudes and behaviors

Cultural Representations

• "The Feminine Mystique" (1963) by Betty Friedan, a groundbreaking book that challenged the notion that women could only find fulfillment through housework and motherhood
• "Our Bodies, Ourselves" (1971), a book by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective that provided women with information about their bodies and health
• "The Joy of Sex" (1972) by Alex Comfort, a popular sex manual that promoted sexual exploration and pleasure
• "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-1977), a television series featuring a single, independent career woman as the lead character
• "An American Family" (1973), a groundbreaking documentary series that chronicled the daily life of the Loud family and included the first openly gay character on American television
• "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975), a musical comedy film that celebrated sexual liberation and gender fluidity
• Music and fashion of the 1960s and 1970s reflected changing attitudes towards sexuality and gender expression
  • Artists like David Bowie and Elton John challenged traditional masculine norms

Challenges and Controversies

• Debates over the morality and consequences of the sexual revolution
  • Concerns about the breakdown of traditional family structures and values
• Backlash against the women's rights movement and the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
  • Phyllis Schlafly and the "Stop ERA" movement argued that the ERA would lead to negative consequences for women
• Controversies surrounding abortion rights and Roe v. Wade (1973)
  • Anti-abortion activists and religious groups opposed the legalization of abortion
• Discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals
  • The AIDS crisis of the 1980s disproportionately affected the gay community and led to increased stigma and discrimination
• Debates over the role of government in regulating sexual behavior and expression
  • Obscenity laws and censorship of sexual content in media and the arts
• Intersectional issues and the marginalization of women of color and LGBTQ+ people of color within mainstream feminist and LGBTQ+ movements
• Criticisms of the sexual revolution as primarily benefiting white, middle-class individuals

Legacy and Ongoing Influences

• Continued progress in women's rights and gender equality
  • Passage of legislation such as the Equal Pay Act (1963) and Title IX (1972)
• Growing acceptance and legal recognition of LGBTQ+ rights
  • Legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States (2015)
• Ongoing debates over reproductive rights and access to healthcare
  • Efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and challenges to Roe v. Wade
• #MeToo movement and increased attention to sexual harassment and assault
  • Heightened awareness of power imbalances and the need for consent in sexual relationships
• Intersectional approaches to feminism and LGBTQ+ activism
  • Recognition of the unique experiences and challenges faced by marginalized communities
• Continued challenges to traditional gender roles and expressions
  • Increased visibility of transgender and non-binary individuals
• Influence on popular culture, media, and the arts
  • More diverse and inclusive representations of gender and sexuality in film, television, and literature

Further Reading and Resources

• "Sexual Politics" (1970) by Kate Millett, a feminist classic that analyzes the power dynamics between men and women in society
• "The Hite Report" (1976) by Shere Hite, a groundbreaking study of female sexuality based on surveys and interviews with thousands of women
• "This Bridge Called My Back" (1981), an anthology edited by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa, featuring writings by women of color on feminism, identity, and oppression
• "The History of Sexuality" (1976-2018) by Michel Foucault, a multi-volume philosophical study of the evolving discourse surrounding sexuality in Western society
• "The Celluloid Closet" (1981) by Vito Russo, a book and later documentary film that examines the representation of LGBTQ+ characters in Hollywood films
• "The Feminine Mystique at 50" (2013), a collection of essays reflecting on the impact and legacy of Betty Friedan's influential book
• "When We Rise" (2017), a memoir by Cleve Jones, a prominent LGBTQ+ rights activist, chronicling his experiences from the 1970s to the present day
• "Feminists Who Changed America, 1963-1975" (2006), a biographical dictionary edited by Barbara J. Love, featuring profiles of key figures in the women's rights movement