History of Feminism
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So here I am in Michigan---I've never been--. So we go to the Henry Ford museum, Henry Ford, who I've known was, among other things, as anti-war, anti-union as well as an anti-Semite of the first order; and what do I find?
(Besides awesome cars and other fun displays?)
A great display on women's suffrage, and the actual bus Rosa Parks was on when she refused to move. Timelines of the civil rights movement. Watched field trip kids going through these displays, I wondered, do they know? Do they care? Will it affect them as they grow older?
Sexism was not discussed outside the context of sufferage and how women used to be completely dependent on men legally, and I wondered, how did the conversation stop, outside of feminism? Where did it stop? Was it the 50's, with its false post war sense of place? The resurgence of feminism in the 60's, the inward turning of the 70's? The complacency of the 80's, and the long funeral dirge atmosphere of the 90's
Or did it never stop? Just ebb and flow, ebb and flow?
Little Star
(17,055 posts)BainsBane
(53,035 posts)Last edited Wed Mar 6, 2013, 07:24 PM - Edit history (1)
He was among the first major manufacturers to hire African-Americans. He rejected elitism and other one-percenters but was a megalomaniac. I don't know anything about his views of women's rights or women in the workforce, other than of course women worked on the factory lines during WWII. I do know that my grandmother, born in the late nineteenth century, worked as assistant manager of the cafeteria at the Ford plant in St. Paul, and she LOVED her job, working well past retirement. Unlike many women, she did go back to working in the home after WWII. She kept working until well in her 80s. In another generation, she would have been a CEO of a major corporation, only she never had that opportunity.
As for discussions on feminism: Cultural backlash has convinced many that feminist is a dirty word. Even those who proclaim themselves feminists seem to have little awareness or concern for struggles waged by women before them. They seem to take for granted that they have access to the workforce and running for office. I suppose the conservative turn of the 80s is party responsible, and the ongoing cultural backlash that seeks to reduce women to their physical appearance and thus rests power away from them in the economic and political real.
Frosty1
(1,823 posts)The ERA failed to receive the requisite number of ratifications before the final deadline mandated by Congress of June 30, 1982 expired, and so it was not adopted, largely because Phyllis Schlafly mobilized conservatives to oppose the ERA. Then came "the moral majority" who succeeded in turning feminism into a dirty word just like they did to the word "liberal"
Us old feminists have been waiting in the wings for the pendulum to swing back. We have had a looong wait. Good to see you here!
CrispyQ
(36,478 posts)The damage they've done to our society is incalculable. The media is equally guilty, amplifying the voice of every crackpot organization, giving us 'fair & balanced' news, like all sides are equal, all for the benefit of their bottom line.
The Internet has been a double edge sword, but is still more a positive in our battle, than a negative. There's more opportunity for harassment, for example the crap that a lot of women bloggers take, but the Internet is also a great tool for education & reaching out. I've learned so much from forums like this.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)I love the Henry Ford Museum and have spent many hours there, I have to say I haven't been there in a couple of years though. Every kid who ever grew up in the Detroit area has done the H F Museum/ Greenfield Village field trip at least 5 times in their young lives, I think it's a law.
ismnotwasm
(41,992 posts)We're going to Detroit tomorrow.
The Henry Ford Museum was pretty impressive.
I mean the JFK car? A other wow.
(The Reagan car? Not so much)
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,479 posts)At the Detroit city limit, the marchers were met by Dearborn police and doused by fire hoses. Despite the cold weather, they continued to the Employment Office of the Ford River Rouge plant, from which there had been massive layoffs. Five workers were killed and nineteen wounded by police and company security armed with pistols, rifles and a machine gun.
more: http://www.peacebuttons.info/E-News/peacehistorymarch.htm#march71932
An odd mix of emotions for sure.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)the Governor seat and sent in the Michigan National Guard to protect the Flint auto workers from the police during their famous sit down strike. We need more Frank Murphys in this country.
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,479 posts)I worked in Michigan for two years. I have friends there. I hope things improve.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)I come from a long line of factory rats.
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,479 posts)I worked in Grand Rapids. Winters weren't bad if you didn't have to worry about shoveling.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)time with us. But yeah, the snow. I'm in Myrtle Beach for the month so I'm trying not to think about it.
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,479 posts)The Winters are generally better but sometimes annoying, snow, melt, freeze, ice, melt, refreeze...