Word Minimum Count For Each Question: What Changes I

250 Word Minimum Count For Each Questionquestion 1what Changes In Gov

Question 1: What changes in government policy made American families more prosperous after World War II? How did the prosperity start to change family culture and gender roles? Imagine that you are living in this time period. How are you affected by these issues? Ask your classmates what they think about everything from consumerism and advertising to birth control and the modern American family as it develops in this time period. Incorporate specific connections to the Unit 6 reading material as part of your response; include APA formatting (citations and references) to support your points.

Paper For Above instruction

Following World War II, numerous government policies contributed significantly to the economic prosperity of American families. The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill, was instrumental in providing returning soldiers with access to affordable education, housing loans, and employment opportunities. This policy spurred consumer demand for housing, automobiles, and other goods, fueling economic growth and stability within the middle class (Dube & Dumenil, 2012). Additionally, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) promoted homeownership by insuring loans, making it easier for families to buy homes, which became a cornerstone of prosperity in that era (Dube & Dumenil, 2012). These policies created a solid economic foundation that allowed American families to enjoy higher standards of living, increased disposable income, and the ability to invest in consumer goods.

Prosperity also fostered profound changes in family culture and gender roles. The economic boom encouraged a shift towards a consumer-oriented society, emphasizing material possessions, leisure, and the nuclear family ideal. The rise of advertising and mass media further reinforced the image of the suburban, suburban homemaker, and the male breadwinner (Dube & Dumenil, 2012). Women, while often expected to remain in their traditional roles, gained increased access to birth control, which gradually allowed them more control over family planning and career choices (Dube & Dumenil, 2012). As a woman living during this period, I might feel excited about the prospects of a comfortable lifestyle but also pressured to conform to gender expectations rooted in traditional roles. The development of consumerism, along with the notion of the "modern" family, influences daily life, shaping what is considered desirable or acceptable.

In conclusion, government policies post-WWII set the stage for economic prosperity, which in turn reshaped family dynamics and gender roles. The proliferation of advertising and the availability of birth control played pivotal roles in creating a modern American family that prioritized consumerism and traditional gender expectations, yet also provided new opportunities for women within these evolving societal norms.

References

• Dube, L., & Dumenil, L. (2012). Through Women’s Eyes (3rd ed.). Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Question 2: What were the main issues for which women were fighting during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s? Looking back from the perspective of the 21st century, to what degree were they successful? What was the significance of the National Organization for Women (NOW) as part of these efforts? Why was the Equal Rights Amendment a key focus on the women’s movement in the 1970s and 1980s?

Throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, women’s movements centered on several critical issues aimed at achieving gender equality and challenging patriarchal norms. During the 1960s, the focus was on combating discriminatory employment practices and advocating for reproductive rights, inspired by the broader civil rights movement (Dube & Dumenil, 2012). The publication of Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique in 1963 galvanized many women to question traditional roles and seek broader opportunities beyond homemaking. The formation of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966 played a vital role in organizing efforts toward legislative change, including the push for equal pay, anti-discrimination laws, and reproductive rights (Dube & Dumenil, 2012).

During the 1970s and 1980s, the movement tackled issues such as workplace harassment, access to education, and the fight for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA sought to guarantee equal legal rights regardless of sex, symbolizing the movement’s commitment to substantive gender equality (Dube & Dumenil, 2012). While the ERA was not ratified, the decade experienced significant victories, including increased awareness of domestic violence, advancements in reproductive rights, and better legal protections against sex discrimination. From a 21st-century perspective, women’s efforts have achieved notable progress—more women participate fully in the workforce, and gender equality is embedded in many legal frameworks (Dube & Dumenil, 2012). However, disparities still persist, indicating that the movement’s success was substantial but incomplete.

The significance of NOW lay in its capacity to organize women across socio-economic backgrounds and advocate for legislative and cultural change. It was instrumental in framing gender equality as a rights issue and mobilizing women into activism. The ERA became a symbol of the ongoing struggle to secure constitutional protections against gender discrimination, representing the ideal of formal legal equality, even though full ratification remained elusive (Dube & Dumenil, 2012). Overall, the women's movement of these decades laid the groundwork for continued progress and reshaped societal expectations about gender roles.

References

• Dube, L., & Dumenil, L. (2012). Through Women’s Eyes (3rd ed.). Bedford/St. Martin’s.