Women in the 1970's

In the 1970’s, this was a time where people were getting to the end phase of the “hippie” era. In this era, people were also opposing the use of nuclear weapons, proposing world peace, and women gained the right to have abortions. Women were receiving more rights than they had in the past. With even the smallest gain of rights for women comes with reward of a new role in society. Most women in the 1970’s were striving for a footprint in society and wanted to achieve more than just the standard household position. Women were fighting for the right of equality as men. This equality they were striving for would enable them to work in offices, classrooms, law firms, and science labs.

Women in the 1970’s are dramatically changing their role. The reason they are changing their role is due to the Feminist movement. The Feminist movement began in the 1960’s but carried over to the 1970’s gaining a larger audience. Women were beginning to stand up for what they believe in; they are demonstrating this by protesting and picketing. They wanted to change the “traditional” role of women and change the image of gender roles. The 70’s didn’t really have a role to follow for women but, they were beginning to stand up for what they believe is right and to form what that role should be. I can say that the women were changing their hair from long and straight to short and feathery. 

A handful of powerful women were supporting this movement with all force and were attempting to gain women’s equality. Strikes and picketing were the most popular form of demonstrating what women want. Majority of the strikes were directly aimed towards sexist laws and social equality. The movement was getting broader which in turn was giving women more opportunities to equality. By the mid 1970’s, women were given the right to work in politics, businesses, law, science, and most commonly the home. Women had finally lifted a newspaper and read in the advertisement section that there were jobs for both women and males, but categorized by the task they had to achieve.  With the gain of these job opportunities, women were still losing in the field of wage. There was still a huge gap in the wage of men to women, but has made minimal progress. Women were getting paid about 45% less than men for the exact same position in any field. Progress is progress though.

The women’s movement carried throughout the entire 1970’s and the first few years of the 80’s. A few women that were responsible for this new role change was; Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, and Betty Ford. Throughout this entire movement, there were several ups and downs. They have won some, but majority of what they were really striving for led in a loss but, the progress they have achieved throughout the ~22 years they were alive created a great foothold for women’s rights. The roles of women were beginning to change but they still have not achieved their goal, equality.

Henry Piatek