9.8 - FEMINISM in the 20th Century, Explained

Historical Context of Women's Roles in Europe

• Women in historical perspective were primarily seen as mothers.
    - Three categories predominated:
      - Pre-mothers: Women who had not yet had children.
      - Mothers proper: Women who had given birth.
      - Post-mothers: Women who were often viewed as primarily responsible for domestic tasks, including cooking for husbands.

Changes Post-World War II

• After WW2, significant changes began to reshape women's roles in Europe.
    - Emergence of Opportunities:
      - New opportunities for women unfolded in both Western and Eastern Europe.
      - Key factors included:
        - Post-war Economic Boom:
          - There was a high demand for labor as economies were revitalized.
          - The Marshall Plan contributed to the economic recovery of Western Europe.
        - Shifts in Economic Structure:
          - Movement from male-dominated industries (e.g., coal mining, shipbuilding) to a more knowledge-based economy.
          - The transition allowed women to access more white-collar professions.
        - Increased Education:
          - A surge in college enrollment among younger women after the war equipped them for roles in the new economy.
• Despite these advancements:
    - Persistent Inequalities:
      - Many women still faced challenges:
        - Often limited to part-time work.
        - Receiving lower pay than men for the same work.
      - Nonetheless, the evolving landscape indicated progress toward gender equality.

Feminist Movements

• Historical Waves of Feminism:
    - First Wave Feminism (late 19th to early 20th century):
      - Focused on securing women's right to vote; known as women's suffrage.
      - Important achievements included:
        - Many states recognized women's suffrage post-World War I due to their contributions during the war.
        - Countries that granted suffrage included Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Germany, Britain, and Czechoslovakia, with the U.S. in 1920 and France by 1941.
    - Second Wave Feminism (1960s-1970s):
      - Aimed at addressing broader social issues and inequalities:
        - Issues surrounding education, marriage laws, and professional equality.
      - Key figure:
        - Simone de Beauvoir:
          - Authored The Second Sex.
          - Argued against societal standards governing women's behavior and for equal opportunities for women.
          - Laid the philosophical groundwork for second wave feminism.

Women's Rights in the Eastern Bloc

• In the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc nations, women's rights were not primarily achieved through feminist activism but through government policy:
    - Since the Russian Revolution, women were recognized as equal to men and had greater opportunities than in many Western nations.
    - Yet they faced similar challenges as women in the West, such as economic inequality.

Changes in Marriage and Reproductive Rights

• Significant revolutions occurred concerning women's rights in marriage and reproduction:
    - Divorce Laws began to change, granting women more agency in divorce, which was typically controlled by men.
    - Introduction of birth control methods:
      - Birth Control Pill:
        - Developed largely due to the efforts of American feminist Margaret Sanger.
        - Allowed women greater control over pregnancy, reducing the likelihood of unintended pregnancies.
      - Controversial reception from the Roman Catholic Church, which believed that controlling reproduction was divinely ordained.
    - In Vitro Fertilization (IVF):
      - Fertilization of an egg outside the womb, allowing women to have children without traditional constraints of partnership.

Political Gains of Women

• Noteworthy breakthroughs for women in politics during the late 20th century:
    - Margaret Thatcher:
      - Became the first female Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1979.
      - Sought to reverse liberal policies of the labor party, focusing on reducing the welfare state through slashed government programs, tax reductions for the wealthy, and privatization of state-run agencies.
    - Mary Robinson:
      - The first female president of Ireland (1990), working to modernize the country by legalizing divorce, contraception, and homosexuality.
    - Édith Cresson:
      - Assumed office in 1991 as France's first female Prime Minister, though her tenure faced accusations of corruption, sparking discussions on equality in political accountability.

Conclusion

• The evolution of women's roles in Europe reflects a complex history marked by socio-economic changes and varying waves of feminist movements, leading to advances in rights and opportunities for women across both Western and Eastern Europe.