Understand the role of women during the movement and what groups/movements they were responsible for.
During the movement, women played a crucial role in shaping and driving various civil rights and feminist movements. They were responsible for leading numerous groups and movements aimed at achieving equality, justice, and empowerment for women.
1. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP): Women played an active role in the NAACP, advocating for civil rights and the end of racial discrimination. Prominent women leaders like Ella Baker and Daisy Bates played pivotal roles in organizing protests, leading campaigns, and mobilizing communities.
2. National Organization for Women (NOW): NOW, founded in 1966, became one of the most significant feminist organizations during the movement. Women like Betty Friedan, the author of "The Feminine Mystique," were instrumental in creating NOW, focusing on issues like gender discrimination, reproductive rights, and workplace equality.
3. Black Feminism: Women within the civil rights movement, such as Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Angela Davis, also brought attention to the specific issues faced by Black women. They spearheaded the Black feminist movement, addressing the intersecting oppressions of both race and gender.
4. Women's Liberation Movement: Arising alongside the civil rights movement, the Women's Liberation Movement sought to address sexism and gender inequality. Influential women like Gloria Steinem, Bella Abzug, and Shirley Chisholm fought for women's rights, reproductive freedom, and an end to gender-based discrimination.
5. Chicana Feminism: Chicanas, comprising Mexican-American women, established their own feminist movement during the civil rights era. Leaders like Dolores Huerta and Graciela Sanchez focused on rights for both Latinx individuals and women, emphasizing the multiple identities and challenges faced by Latinx women.
6. Women's Strike for Equality: In 1970, women organized the Women's Strike for Equality, demanding equal opportunities in employment and education. This protest brought attention to gender disparities and helped kickstart the Second Wave of Feminism.
Overall, women were vital contributors to various movements during the civil rights era. They worked towards achieving racial equality, gender equity, and the recognition of intersectional identities, ultimately shaping the course of the feminist movement alongside broader civil rights struggles.