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Describe two problems tackled by feminist movements in the USA in the 1960s and early 1970s. - AQA - GCSE History - Question 4 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 4
Describe two problems tackled by feminist movements in the USA in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Describe two problems tackled by feminist movements in the USA in the 1960s and early 1970s. - AQA - GCSE History - Question 4 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
One problem was the fight to gain the legal right to abortion.
Answer
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, feminist movements in the USA focused on reproductive rights. One significant event was the Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade in 1973, which established a woman’s legal right to choose to have an abortion. This landmark decision was a direct response to the feminist movement's activism against restrictive abortion laws, which were seen as a fundamental infringement on women's rights and autonomy.
Step 2
Another problem was the opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment.
Answer
Feminists in this era also campaigned against the legal inequalities enshrined in law, particularly the proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA aimed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Opponents argued that it would undermine traditional family structures and legal protections for women. Feminists responded by highlighting the need for legal equality to combat discrimination, such as workplace inequality, urging Congress to pass the amendment.