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1977 - 2001 End of the Twentieth Century Key Ideas:
1. Women contributed to the conservative movement (and resistance to it) in the 1980s as well as the resurgence of progressive politics in the 1990s.
2. Greater access to information and technology changed the daily lives of women from many different backgrounds.
3. The gains of the 1970s feminist movement allowed women greater access to opportunities in education, politics, and the workplace, although these opportunities were different for women of diverse backgrounds.
4. The experiences of women in this period varied widely based on race, class, age, gender identity, and geographic region.
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1948 – 1977 Growth and Turmoil Key Ideas
1. The federal government and popular culture sought to promote the
superiority of democracy over communism by celebrating the suburban
family, which was held together by the American housewife. This
middle-class ideal, however, excluded most Americans.
2. Ongoing racism and segregation led to a wave of civil rights
activism, including and extending far beyond the African American
community. Women played a significant role in leading this work.
3. The Vietnam War provided women with new opportunities for service
and activism. Women were vocal participants in both the pro- and
anti-war movements.
4. The activism of the 1960s was a major catalyst in the growth of
the women’s liberation movement. Feminists from diverse backgrounds
fought for equality, but they did not always agree on the best way to
achieve it.
5. Not all American women supported gender equality and progressive feminist ideals."
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1920 – 1948 Confidence and Crises Key Ideas
1. Major social, economic, and political shifts in this period forced Americans to once again question what it meant to be an American.
2. Women of all backgrounds continued to feel the tension between traditional expectations of domesticity and expanding opportunities in work, education, social interaction, and politics.
3. After the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, women activists lacked a unifying issue. Instead, they focused on an increasingly diverse array of social and political issues.
4. Although women’s experiences varied depending on age, race, ethnicity, geography, and economic status, women across all these categories actively contributed to reform and activated their citizenship in creative ways throughout the era.
