The Impact Of The Feminist Movement In The 1960's

Submitted By Hunter-Kennedy
Words: 1338
Pages: 6
Open Document
The culture of America changed during the 1960’s. The new culture was of equal rights, revolution, rebellion, and a minority’s right to choose. The Feminist movement is not the most popular movement of its time compared to the civil rights movement, but it was gaining strength every day. Women were being introduced into the workplace. They were getting jobs but were also being harassed by the men. This made them independent in more ways than one. The Feminist movement had effects on many aspects of society during the 1960’s. These include television, literature, and music. In the beginning of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Connie is the typical 60’s girl. She has defiant, rebellious side that captures the Feminist movement perfectly. Near the end of the story, Connie does something entirely unexpected according to society. She gives in to Arnold Friend’s commands. This would not have happened during the Feminist movement of the 1960’s. It is hard to put a definition on Feminism because “each person who claims to be a Feminist has their own definition of the word, what it means to them, and how it impacts their life” (Chepurny). One fact about all Feminists is that they “want both men and women to be treated equally on all fronts, in all aspects of society and in all parts of the world” (Chepurny). Merriam-Webster defines it as “the theory of the political, economic, and the social equality of the sexes” (Sink). This is a very basic definition but also very detailed. It portrays women’s want to be treated equal in all aspects of life.
Feminism has a very long history dating back to the early 1900’s. “The history of feminism is, in fact, political history, or it is (to put it another way) a more expansive history of politics that incorporates women and analyzes gender politics” (Offen). It has had three very distinguishable movements otherwise called waves.
”First wave feminism grew from women activists involvement in nineteenth century movements such as the anti-slavery movement. After passage of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlawed discrimination in voting on the basis of race, woman’s movement activists coalesced around campaigns to secure woman suffrage. By 1923, three years after passage of the universal suffrage 19th Amendment, some suffragists National Womens Party leader Alice Paul, for instance began pushing for an Equal Rights Amendment to outlaw all forms of discrimination based on sex, an ultimately unsuccessful campaign that lasted until 1983” (Feminism and the Women's Movement).
These three waves have created the equality between men and women that exists today. Each wave built momentum until Feminists started the Feminist movement which set the ball rolling. It changed the lives of women forever.
Feminism had major effects on different aspects of a women’s daily life. It affected birth rates, their home life, the workplace, and caused friction between genders. Birth rates were affected because “more than 80 percent of wives of childbearing age were using contraception after the federal government in 1960 approved a birth control pill” (Walsh). This allowed women to have more freedom in society. It “freed many women from unwanted pregnancy and gave them many more choices” (Walsh). Before the Feminist Movement of the 60’s women did not do much more than chores around the house. They “had been relegated to a single career path (homemaking) and that had to change” (Mother Superior). Women “despite their economic contributions and employment freedom, were still expected to shoulder the lion's share of work in the home” (Mother Superior). This meant that women were expected to be a wife, professional, mother, and home-maker. The women had a more difficult time after they gained their freedom because “women had gained new jobs, but had been forced to continue doing the old as well” (Mother Superior). The workplace was significantly changed after the Feminist Movement
Show More

Related Documents: The Impact Of The Feminist Movement In The 1960's

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

There comes a time in everyone’s life where they outgrow a stage of their life. This part of their life is the coming of age, where they transition from being a child to an adult. There are some excellent short stories that have great examples of the coming of age stage. “Boys and Girls” by Alice Munro and “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, are exemplary coming of age short stories. Throughout these short stories we see the lessons the characters learn, as well as how…

Words 98 - Pages 1

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

“My parents don’t understand a word I’m saying (Osterweil 1)” This is a result of communication gap between parents and child. Readers see the same communication gap between Connie and her parents in Joyce Carol Oates short story “Where are you going, Where have you been?” Oates, in her story, gave the ultimate valuation of such a gap through Connie’s surrender to the devil Arnold Friend (Oates). Oates left readers to guess Connie’s fate in the hand of devil Arnold Friend. Joyce Carol Oates in a…

Words 803 - Pages 4

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, we read about two characters, a girl and an American man. The two have short conversations between them, and these conversations can hint of many clues about them and their relationship. In the story, we discover what the characters are like, through what they say, and also through the things they don’t say. The short story “Where are you going, Where have you been” by Joyce Carol Oates is about a teenage girl who is, vain, self-doubting and affixed in the present…

Words 1488 - Pages 6

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

and use ways to make them feel safe with them, until they realize they’re not. Connie was personally affected when she found out Arnold had been stalking and following her, knowing too much information about her. After a long stand off with him, she realized she must go with him, he’s kidnapping her. In the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?,” the author Joyce Oates shows how dangerous men can…

Words 1284 - Pages 6

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Have you ever felt the pull of temptation so strong that it threatened to shatter your innocence and alter the course of your life forever? Joyce Carol Oates provides readers with an unsettling territory, exploring the blurred lines between adolescence and adulthood, and the hunting consequences of giving in to the siren call of danger, within her story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Through the journey of this short story, the narrator highlights the complexities of shifting from youth…

Words 967 - Pages 4

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

moments. The feelings you release after fantasy horror and real-world horror are incomparable. The short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates describes the life of a girl who was unexpectedly put into a horrific situation without wanting to be involved in it. The outcome of real-world horror is most likely to result in disaster. On the other hand, fantasy horror can be looked at as a positive feeling. Depending on either situation, there is something you can take out of…

Words 1384 - Pages 6

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Theme

in life. It’s called adolescence. Adolescence can be one of the most difficult things to go through. It’s a constant war that you fight between yourself trying to find yourself, while still trying to be accepted by your peers. In order to survive in this world, it’s essential to know who you are and what you stand for. In the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, the character Connie experiences adolescence and fights a battle of finding self-identity. Battling low self-esteem, no support…

Words 1289 - Pages 6

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Essay

In the short story by Joyce Carol Oates, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” the traumatic tale of a young girl preyed on by older men is told. The story begins with a beautiful teen constantly being torn down by her parents. She seeks attention and acceptance from boys around town causing her let her guard around men; which later becomes problem. Two unfamiliar men arrive at her house when her family leaves. Instead of keeping the door shut or calling the police, she opens the door and begins…

Words 610 - Pages 3

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Relationships

In an ever changing society where the emphasis on a nuclear family is being left behind, Joyce Carol Oates wrote Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been in 1966. This piece was a change from most works of literature at the time, because Oates draws attention to the disconnect between parents and children of the 1950s and 1960s. In the story the main character, Connie, and her parents do not have a good relationship. The frayed relationship between parents and child gives pop culture the opportunity…

Words 424 - Pages 2

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Essay

Undoubtedly, being a parent is an endless, difficult, but satisfactory job. Nonetheless, in every relationship, especially between families, communication is fundamental to establish a solid tie. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is a story by Joyce Carol Oates written in 1966. After analyzing the story, one concludes the lack of communication between an adolescent and her parents brings a tragic end for the adolescent. Oates relied on poor communication skills to develop the significance…

Words 865 - Pages 4