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: Women's Revolution

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Submitted By Stepf
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Second Wave Feminism: 1960s
In the early 1960s, many middle- and upper-class white women begin to question their domestic roles—a phenomenon that becomes known as “the problem that has no name.” In the late 1960s, a culture of revolution emerges, with protests against the Vietnam War, formation of the first lesbian separatist communities, student protests in Europe, guerrilla movements in Latin America, liberation struggles in Africa, a cultural revolution in China, and a tide of socialism and Marxism. This culture fuels the strength of the women’s movement going into the 1970s.
Height of the Movement: 1970s
In the 1970s, women convene consciousness-raising groups to educate about gender oppression, create community, and share common experiences. The first women’s studies departments are developed at universities, and the United Nations designates the 1970s the “Women’s Decade.” However, some black women challenge the women’s movement as failing to acknowledge non-white concerns, and many become disillusioned. Lesbian feminists challenge the women’s movement to reconsider their attitudes toward the nuclear family, calling upon women to become “political lesbians” and stop “sleeping with the enemy.”
Backlash Era: 1980s
The 1980s and the Reagan years saw a backlash against feminism and the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment.

1973: In Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, the Supreme Court declares that the Constitution protects women's right to terminate an early pregnancy, thus making abortion legal.
1981: The Supreme Court rules that excluding women from the draft is constitutional.
In Kirchberg v. Feenstra, the Supreme Court overturns state laws designating a husband "head and master" with unilateral control of property owned jointly with his wife.

Third-Wave Feminism: 1990s
In the 1990s, fierce abortion debates create deep partisan divisions about funding, counseling, late-term abortion, and the state’s “compelling” interest in potential human life.

1993: The Family and Medical Leave Act goes into effect, allowing female workers to take employment leave after giving birth.

The groundbreaking move recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff overturns a 1994 rule banning women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units. Panetta's decision gives the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe any positions must remain closed to women.

References:
Post Courier(2009) Retrieved on June 24, 2014. http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20090306/PC1208/303069957
Sparkcharts.com(2013) Retrieved on June 24, 2014 http://sparkcharts.sparknotes.com/womens/womens/section2.php Fox News (2013) Retrieved on 24 June 2014.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/24/panetta-opens-combat-roles-to-women/

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