Question

In the context of the protest movement in the USA, discuss the following:

The impact of the Presidential Commission on the Feminist Movement in the USA (1960s – 1980s).

Answer 1

Impact of the Presidential Commission on the Feminist Movement in the USA:

1. The Presidential Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) was established in 1961 by an executive order issued by President John F. Kennedy. Its aim was to suggest solutions to the problem of discrimination against women in education, employment, and social security.
2. The PCSW worked against sexual discrimination and opposed unfair treatment of women.
3. The main objective of the Commission was to ensure that women had full opportunities to participate equally in mainstream American society.
4. Its other demands included ending violence against women, ensuring constitutional equality, removing racism, and achieving economic justice.
5. The Commission urged its members to join marches and participate in economic boycotts when the Southern states refused to approve the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
6. In 1970, feminists demanded a hearing on the Equal Rights Amendment and insisted that the American Constitution should guarantee equal rights for women. Although this amendment failed because most states rejected it, it still created a major impact on American society.