9.4 Other Rights Movements (Women, Latinos, Native Americans)

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s inspired other marginalized groups to fight for equality. Women, Latinos, and Native Americans organized their own movements, each with unique goals and strategies. These groups faced different challenges but shared common tactics like protests and legal action.

While the women's movement focused on workplace equality and reproductive rights, Latinos fought discrimination and celebrated cultural identity. Native Americans sought sovereignty and land rights. These movements expanded the civil rights struggle beyond racial lines, reshaping American society.

Women's Rights Movement: Goals, Strategies, and Achievements

Second-Wave Feminism and Gender Inequality

Top images from around the web for Second-Wave Feminism and Gender Inequality

• 

  National women's strike 1970 - News and Letters Committees View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  52 Photos Of Women Who Changed History Forever View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Review of ‘She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry’ - News and Letters Committees View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  National women's strike 1970 - News and Letters Committees View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  52 Photos Of Women Who Changed History Forever View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Second-Wave Feminism and Gender Inequality

• 

  National women's strike 1970 - News and Letters Committees View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  52 Photos Of Women Who Changed History Forever View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Review of ‘She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry’ - News and Letters Committees View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  National women's strike 1970 - News and Letters Committees View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  52 Photos Of Women Who Changed History Forever View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• The women's rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s, often referred to as second-wave feminism, aimed to address issues of gender inequality and discrimination in various aspects of society, including the workplace, politics, and personal relationships
• Key goals of the women's rights movement included equal pay for equal work, access to birth control and reproductive rights, increased representation in politics and leadership positions, and challenging traditional gender roles and expectations
• The movement contributed to increased awareness of sexual harassment and domestic violence, leading to the development of resources and support networks for survivors

Strategies and Notable Achievements

• Strategies employed by the movement included consciousness-raising groups, protests and demonstrations, legal challenges, and lobbying for legislative changes
  • Notable events include the Women's Strike for Equality in 1970 and the passage of Title IX in 1972, which prohibited discrimination based on sex in educational programs receiving federal funds
• Achievements of the women's rights movement during this period include the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the establishment of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966, and the legalization of abortion with Roe v. Wade in 1973

Chicano Movement and Latino Civil Rights

El Movimiento and Empowerment

• The Chicano Movement, also known as El Movimiento, emerged in the 1960s as a civil rights movement focused on the empowerment and advocacy of Mexican Americans and other Latino communities in the United States
• Key goals of the Chicano Movement included fighting against discrimination, improving access to education and job opportunities, promoting cultural pride and identity, and addressing issues of police brutality and political underrepresentation

Strategies and Community Organizations

• Strategies employed by the movement included student walkouts and protests, such as the 1968 East Los Angeles walkouts, the formation of community organizations like the United Farm Workers (UFW), and the creation of Chicano art and literature to celebrate cultural heritage
• The UFW, led by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, organized strikes and boycotts to advocate for better working conditions and rights for agricultural workers, many of whom were Latino
• The Chicano Movement also led to the establishment of Chicano studies programs in universities and the increased political participation and representation of Latinos in local and national politics
• Other Latino civil rights efforts included the Puerto Rican Young Lords organization and the Cuban-American Miami Sound Machine, which used music to raise awareness of Latino culture and issues

Native American Rights Movement: Struggles and Gains

Addressing Sovereignty, Land Rights, and Cultural Preservation

• The Native American rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s sought to address issues of tribal sovereignty, land rights, cultural preservation, and the ongoing effects of colonialism and forced assimilation on Native American communities
• The occupation of Alcatraz Island in 1969 by a group of Native American activists was a symbolic protest to assert indigenous rights and bring attention to the struggles faced by Native communities, including poverty, discrimination, and the violation of treaties

American Indian Movement (AIM) and Government Suppression

• The American Indian Movement (AIM), founded in 1968, became a prominent organization in the fight for Native American rights, employing strategies such as protests, occupations, and legal challenges
  • AIM's 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties culminated in the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building in Washington, D.C., where activists presented a list of demands to the federal government
  • The 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota by AIM members and supporters lasted 71 days and brought international attention to Native American issues
• Struggles faced by the Native American rights movement included government suppression, internal conflicts, and the ongoing challenges of poverty, health disparities, and cultural erosion within Native communities
• Gains made by the movement include the passage of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, which increased tribal control over federal programs, and the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, which protected the right to practice traditional religions

Civil Rights Movements: Experiences vs Objectives

Common Goals and Strategies

• The women's rights movement, Chicano Movement, and Native American rights movement all emerged during the 1960s and 1970s as part of a broader context of social and political activism, sharing the common goal of fighting against discrimination and oppression
• Strategies employed by these movements often overlapped, including protests, demonstrations, occupations, and legal challenges to assert their rights and bring attention to their causes
• The movements also shared the objective of increasing representation and participation in politics and decision-making processes affecting their communities

Unique Experiences and Priorities

• Each movement focused on the specific experiences and challenges faced by their respective communities, such as gender inequality for women, cultural and linguistic discrimination for Chicanos and Latinos, and the ongoing effects of colonialism and forced assimilation for Native Americans
• The specific goals and priorities of each movement differed based on the unique historical, cultural, and socio-economic contexts of each group
  • For example, the women's rights movement focused heavily on issues of reproductive rights and equal pay, while the Chicano Movement emphasized access to education and celebrating cultural identity, and the Native American rights movement prioritized tribal sovereignty and land rights
• The movements faced different levels of government suppression and public support, with the Native American rights movement experiencing more violent confrontations with law enforcement and the women's rights movement gaining relatively broader mainstream acceptance
• Despite their differences, these movements collectively contributed to a broader push for social justice, civil rights, and the recognition of the diverse experiences and needs of marginalized communities in the United States