A Woman's Journey

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A Woman's Journey: Group Power To Her Power 

DRAFT THESIS:

The "old" definition for feminism was defined as working towards an overall goal as a group, to achieve economic and political power. Today, this new definition no longer holds true, because many women are misrepresented and confused by many new definitions of feminism. This confusion has created women's ability to take matters into her own hands, and follow her own goals and inspirations-whatever they may be.

The first wave of the women's movement started when Abigail Adams wrote her husband, John, to ask him to "remember the ladies" when writing the Declaration of Independence. In fact, the writers did include women's rights, but they took it out in the final draft. This single incident could have changed history for women, but instead, it was over 144 years before suffrage for women was granted. As a result of their oppression, women were compelled to join together, as a group, and spend many years fighting for their own "natural- born" rights.

After the first wave, a new wave of women's movements emerged during the 1960's. Women's rebellion against the middle-class housewife's role contributed to this second wave of women's movements. It began with women's examination of their personal lives and developed into a program for economic and political change. Women's groups discovered discrimination in the workplace, where women received less pay and fewer promotions than men did. They also uncovered barriers to women seeking political office and to female students striving for high academic achievement.

So, the women of America banned together to achieve their political and economic rights. Many people knew them as feminists. They marched and petitioned for their own beliefs, as well as women in general. Protests became an every day word, and women's rights became inevitable. They stood to be heard and respected. In the end, they achieved it with grace.

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The United States passed several laws during the 1960's and 1970's, aimed at providing equal rights for women. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 requires equal pay for men and women doing the same work. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits job discrimination on the basis of sex as well as on the basis of color, race, national origin, and religion. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 bans discrimination on the basis of sex by schools and colleges receiving federal funds. This law applies to discrimination in all areas of school activity, including admissions, ...

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