BQ: Where does this belief originate? Is it ignorance usually? Or is there a general rewriting of history where overt discrimination was illegal in the 1970's? I've noticed a trend, where people talk about first wave feminism as fighting for equal rights, and then imply or outright claim women had equal rights afterward. Like suddenly women were allowed on juries and couldn't be kept out of management legally. The list really goes on and on, but I'll stick with those two examples. @Beetlejuice: No, it isn't a fact. Though it's interesting you have pushed it to the 60's. So you are admitting there was overt legal discrimination in the 60's. It was around in the 70's too in the US and Canada, but okay. Actually, technically it was around even after the 70's, but that's for another day. @Judge Judy: No, that is not legal. That is illegal discrimination against men. I don't know what you mean by reproductive rights. Men don't have uteruses, so the abortion debate is pointless. @Shy: You didn't answer the question. You're just attacking me personally, which is odd. It's interesting that you all really think women weren't dicriminated against legally in the 70's. Why do you think the ERA in the US was proposed? There were (are) so many sexist laws on the books it was easier to just pass an amendment than fix them all.
Best Answer:
Thomas at 17 May,2013
Yes, some people(mostly people that didn't pay much attention in American history and other such classes in college)believe that discrimination against women in the 70's was illegal. What public high school mostly teaches about feminism is the 1st wave and suffrage and it doesn't "always" go into detail about the 2nd wave or the 3rd wave. Here are a few things that were changed because of "legal" discrimination in the 70's, thanks to the 2nd wave movement, but not limited to: 1972 and 1974: Women's Educational and Equity Act. 1974: Equal Credit Opportunity Act. 1978: The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978.
Other Answers:
- Yes, because it's a fact. Most civil rights laws were passed in the 60's...
- Discrimination is legal now. Men have no reproductive rights and employers in certain fields can turn down applicants because they only want women to work there. This is especially true in schools, day cares and some mental health facilities.
- It wasn't legal in fact it was forbidden. Women had society supporting them even before feminism.
- Stop blaming society problems because you aren't able to accomplish certain things. Women have all the chances and more with all the special quotas for them. I rather side with White men over White women ( I'm biracial btw). All I ever see you do is whine how white women have it hard, yes non White women and non White men have it harder, you will not garner sympathy from me.
If Margaret thatcher could've done it on her own then should all these women. - I know, right! Civil Rights laws weren't passed until, like, 1997 and stuff.
And then Bush came into office and, along with banning science, civil rights laws were all overturned. - Ill discriminate ur asshole with my cock.
ey yo gurl wats ur number u hot lemme get sum f*k - Discrimination is illegal, but as long as it is not overt it is nearly impossible to prove. It is illegal in the workplace, but if I start my own private club I would be aloud to discriminate, like freemasons only let men in. I think private clubs should not be subjected to these legalties if that is what you are upset about, and freedom of speech should be protected if you are talking about degrading language.
females were not the only ones involved in the civil rights issue and i find it disgusting when people act like it is - That's what I was always told.
- I hear the same things about people when then talk about racism like it just went away and only existed pre 1970. People think the same about sexism. And Women and black people rights and fighting go hand in hand. And always has. People would know that if they paid attention in history classes.
I seriously have no clue why people have this arguments about abortions, womens rights and politics when they know nothing about history, can't name a president past the first bush, simply if you put a lot of the decade from 65 to 80 and gave a test and said "list all the presidents in order for these years". I can bet you out of a 100 people 5 percent would have it right. But some how they claim to be experts in womens rights, and politics. Politics go farther back than 1985 and a lot father back that 1970. So i try not to get in a debate with "prisoner of the moment" kind of people - Yes, some people(mostly people that didn't pay much attention in American history and other such classes in college)believe that discrimination against women in the 70's was illegal. What public high school mostly teaches about feminism is the 1st wave and suffrage and it doesn't "always" go into detail about the 2nd wave or the 3rd wave.
Here are a few things that were changed because of "legal" discrimination in the 70's, thanks to the 2nd wave movement, but not limited to:
1972 and 1974: Women's Educational and Equity Act.
1974: Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
1978: The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978. - Certainly in the 70's I was paid less than my male colleagues, for the same job, same hours, same qualifications. And it was perfectly legal.
Even in the 80's I had to have my husband's permission to open a bank account or install a telephone.