How did womens experiences in civil rights and antiwar protests increase their awareness of sexism?

A feeling of equality.

I think they were aware of sexism well before the civil rights movement. For example, during World War II in the United States, women were needed to serve in areas previously occupied by men, because the men were needed to fight the war. After having a taste of this independence, opportunity and their expanded abilities, they were pushed back into their subservient roles. (You may never know that you live in a cage, unless you become aware of what is outside of the cage.)

Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "sexism history" to get these possible sources:

http://www.edenbridgetown.com/ethics/discrimination/sexism.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexism
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-2445%28197108%2933%3A3%3C541%3ASIHOWW%3E2.0.CO%3B2-7&size=LARGE&origin=JSTOR-enlargePage
http://www.rootsofsexism.freeuk.com/

I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for asking.

Women's experiences in civil rights and antiwar protests increased their awareness of sexism due to several reasons.

1. Intersectionality: Women who participated in these movements realized that they were facing discrimination and oppression not only based on their gender but also due to other aspects of their identity, such as race or class. This intersectional perspective helped them see the interconnectedness of various forms of discrimination, including sexism.

2. Gendered Division of Labor: Women's involvement in civil rights and antiwar protests made them question the traditional gender roles that relegated them to domestic tasks and limited their societal and political participation. They began to challenge the gendered division of labor that placed men in more visible and powerful positions, while women were expected to support the cause from behind the scenes.

3. Patriarchal Dynamics: Within these movements, women often found themselves marginalized, their voices ignored or overshadowed by male leaders. They had to struggle for recognition and equal representation, which made them starkly aware of the sexism present even within progressive movements.

4. Consciousness-Raising: Engaging in activism and organizing with other women exposed them to the experiences and stories of other women, which helped them recognize and name their own experiences of sexism. These shared experiences and discussions in consciousness-raising groups were crucial in increasing their awareness of sexism and its impact on their lives.

To further explore this topic, you can use the following search keywords: "women's experiences in civil rights movement," "women's experiences in antiwar protests," "sexism and activism," or "intersectionality and sexism."