Notes- women

Wednesday, 8 May 2013 8:22 PM

Timeline Feminism is a movement and system of thought aimed at defining, establishing plus defending equal political, economic and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for woman in education and employment. Women, Work and lifestyle since 1945 During the World War 2, women took part in many roles that were considered only for men. After the war, the women were expected to go back to their traditional roles. Throughout, 1950s and 1960s, women were expected either to stay home or work in underpaid 'women's jobs'. Most girls went to junior high school where emphasis was on home science while most boys went to junior technical high schools which emphasised on crafts that would lead to apprenticeships in trade. From 1950s, there were significant growth in textiles, clothing, footwear and food- processing industries. These relied on the cheap labour of women. In the 1965 to 1980, there were three times as many woman entered the workforce as men but the were paid lower. In 1951, the UN, through the international labour organisations recommended equal pay for equal work. In 1941, the Australia council of trade unions adopted a policy that payment should be determined by one's job. In 1949, the Commonwealth Arbitration Court made women's wage 75% of males and 1962, the ACTU decided to declare a National Equal Pay Week to put pressure on employers. In 1969, the Arbitration Commission, ruled that women should receive equal pay if it is proved they were doing the same job as man in the occupation. Women argued that the decision was unfair because most of the employees where women. Other women refused to pay more than two thirds of their train fare. This was against them only two thirds of what the male pay. By the early 1970s equal pay was being gained in most industries, including those in which most workers were women. Strengthened in 1972 when the Arbitration Commission set a minimum wage for all workers. The Working Women's centre was established in 1973 to advice women on their rights as workers. The organisation produced a set of principles for women to achieve equality as both workers and members of trade unions Women's Liberationists The modern women's movement or woman's liberation movement started in the land 1960s. Today it is called feminism. Feminism is the belief that women should have the same rights as men in any role they choose. Impact of the women's movement The women liberation movement gained ground during the 1970s and 1980s as increasing number of women joined in the workplace. The contraceptive pill had been released in 1961 and women could delay or avoid child bearing. Political activism - 1970, feminists gained much publicity for their ideas through political activism
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political activism - Protest marches, publication of magazines, leaflets, websites, articles and books and lobby groups - Women's Electoral Lobby, formed in 1972 - Promoted women issue by lobbying candidates - Persuade gov. to open heath centres, family planning clinics and childhood centres and increase opportunities for women - Influential in passing the Affirmative Action Act by federal government in 1986 Women in the Workplace - Changed attitudes to the roles of women in Australian society - There was new vocab aimed at equality of gender; chairperson, humankind, role reversal, single parent family - During the 1980s and 1990s, significant improvement in job opportunities - Pay was still not equal in all comparable occupations but women had come to participate in many traditionally male areas of the workforce. The influence of the women's movement - 1980s, sex discrimination was beginning to be addressed at all levels in government, court, schools, work and home - Law reforms gave women opportunities to fight abuses such as sexual harassment at work and rape within marriage - There was backlash against feminism from some men who felt threatened by the advances made by women in society, religious organisations opposed abortion - Some women believe their struggles had been won others believe that the past cannot be changed and some areas still dont have enough change

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