Second wave of Feminism

Ideas and viewpoints were spread through NZ by WLM and feminist icons
1. Literature
  1. Feminine Mystique - Betty Friedman 1963 - Objected idea that women should be placed in home- limited possibilities, wasted potential and talent. Did not give happiness and was degrading to women
  2. The Female Eunuch - Germaine Greer - "traditional" suburban housewife repressed a womans sexuality
    1. Visited in 1972 which energised women and acted as a catalyst for WLM
      1. Not wearing a bra, talking bluntly about sex and swearing in public gave WLM a bad rep. of rebellion
        Arrested and received a $40 fine which she rejected and flew back to Australia
  3. Sexist society - edited by Sue Kedgley and Sharon Cederman - feminist essays 1972
  4. Broadsheet Magazine - key feminist magazine of WLM - key concerns and arguments for women in society - 1972
  5. Thursday Magazine - supported ideas media did not discuss at the time - 1968
Women started to look for alternatives to common expectations - became aware of their historical struggle
1. Contraception - available in 1960's - only for married
  1. wanted control of own fertility - aim for WLM
2. opposed stereotypical views
  1. developed radical views - supported other protest topics such as Anti-Vietnam
    1. Groups divided as different views on importance of various topics. Liberal views, Left wing socialists, Lesbians, Maori views
      1. Wide variety of ideas helped spread F. ideas
Undertook direct actions to help create a social awareness of women's inequality to men
1. Set up - consciousness raising groups and teach in's - share experiences of inequality and make people understand injustices
2. Travelling 'Herstory' exhibition - 1975 - spread word of cause
3. Different Lib Groups - Women for equality, Wellington Women's liberation front, Society for the abolition of 'Miss'
4. First NZ United Women's convention - Auckland September 1973 - 1500 women to discuss ideas, raise awareness.
  1. Apparent sharp clashes between radical and liberal Feminists
    1. However, through this and National Women's Liberation Conferences - feminists adopted motto 'The personal is political' - reinforced situation for one women is situation of all
5. reformed society's views and opinions
Undertook direct action protest - 1970's to bring about social equality with men
1. 1st issue - segregation of men and women in social areas (pubs and clubs)
  1. Many excluded women - became outraged
    1. Stormed pubs and bars, undertook 'Pub liberations' to desegregate
      1. Occurred over a number of years, achieved desired outcome in early 1980's of desegregation - showed social customs were changing
2. Targeted objectification of women - protested against beauty pagents as believed portrayed women as physical and sexual objects, and didn't represent intellect
  1. Annual Miss NZ Auckland 1971 Town Hall- broad-casted live on TV
    1. Group protested outside - accused of turning off electricity that powered the microphone
      1. next year in Dunedin. 70 protested for Dunedin's collective for women. Some branded banners "welcome to the sexploitation show". Some forced into building before being physically evicted. Charges of assult were laid by protestors and won.
3. Against Honourifics - seen as catergorising women by their relationship status to a man
  1. Toni Church created Society for the Abolition of 'Miss' (SAM) - promote use of 'Ms" instead of 'Miss' or 'Mrs'
    1. 'Ms' seen as sign of freedom
4. Create more discussion on issues of rape and violence
  1. Refuge centres set up for women suffering from abusive partners - one of WLM great successes
    1. 1st set up in Christchurch in 1974
      1. Auckland's halfway house for women and their children - 1975, Dunedin's Women's refuge - 1976
  2. 'Reclaim the night' marches
    1. 1st in Wellington 1979 after a number of women were raped in Mt Victoria area
      1. Carried torches, chanting, banging drums
  3. More militant protests- picketing of judges and lawyers who favoured men over women in court cases, picketing of known abusers and rapists
    1. Not supported by all feminists
5. change of perception of women and how they should be treated
Focused on economc issues that concerned women equality with men
1. Equal pay and equal job opportunites = key focus
  1. Same job, same qualifications, paid less. Percieved that men needed more money as were the family 'breadwinners' and employment for women was optional, so paid less
  2. Into public sector in 1960, full swing in 5 years
    1. not in public sector. Median income for women in 1966, 51% of men's median income
      1. 1.9% women earned more than $3000 a year, compared to 20.9% men
  3. Feminist organisations saw it as a form and foundation of independence
  4. disadvantaged with employment opportunities - seen as protecting the women
    1. often rejected - very few in management positions
  5. many unavailiable to women - working hours limited to 8 am to 6 pm under Factories Act 1946
2. Fought for rights
  1. Campaigned for Working Women's Charter to be accepted in 1977
    1. created "Bill of Rights" - called for freedom from discrimination, access to contraception and control of fertility, 24-hour day-care and free, safe access to abortions
      1. campaigned two years - accepted by Labour party and Federation of Labour
3. found in difficult situations in event of divorce
  1. Man seen as financial supporter or the family, women looking after the houshold
    1. Man would receive property, women receive kids
  2. F groups worked help financial aid of single mothers who may not be able to work (due to kids)
4. Believed economic independence would bring freedom for women
focused on advancing political equality for women
1. Women's Electorial Lobby provided information on Womens' parliamentary situation to women's magazines and newsletters
  1. Also lobbied for a proportional representation electorial system - equal amount of women and men
  2. surveyed politicians views on situation in parliament on Womens' issues and reported the back to community
2. called to action due to stat - 1970, only 11 women had been elected to parliament - 1975, only 6% labour candidates 5% of national candidates
  1. often marginalized in parliament
3. L groups presented partitions to parliament , wrote letters to members of parliament, made submissions to working groups and parliamentary Royal commissions
4. 'femocrats' - women within labour party tried to change status of women and womens' issues
  1. focused on equal pay, working womens charter, childcare and abortion - 1974, protested at own party conference for a greater recognition of women's rights in parliment
Right to control own fertility - key social demand
1. Contraception only available to married women, Abortion illegal
  1. Feminists wanted right to choose when where how and whether to have children
  2. "backstreet" abortions, dangerous circumstances, caused infertility of some
    1. risk of 7 years imprisonment
    2. 4000-5000 abortions in 1969 - show abortion seen as social crime
  3. Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand (ALRANZ) was set up in 1971, Women's National Abortion Action (WONAAC) 1973
    1. WONAAC advocated for repeals of law that made it illegal - believed abortion women's right to choose
      1. educational activities, protest posters, public exchanges with politicians and numerous picketing
        After submissions to select committee on women's rights in 1974, held a 'tribunal on crimes against women' in wellington to show experiences of abortion of women and put on public record
  4. further crackdowns on abortion - Hospital Amendment bill 1974 - in attempt to close the Auckland medial aid centre, first abortion clinic
    1. Dr Woolnough - put on trial for performing illegal abortions. After 3, he was aquitted - beginning of social change
Many WL groups opposed the Hospital Amendment Bill and worked to repeal it however was met with a counter attack
1. Liberationists who worked to counter WLM were led by Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC)
  1. main supporter = catholic church. Rights of the unborn child had to be protected
  2. Others such as Feminists for life - presented partition of 28,000 signatures to parliament stating that the working womens charter was a threat to traditional family lifestyle and abortion rates would rise because of it
  3. protests and vigils against the Auckland Medical Aid Centre, even arson attacks
2. Feminist v.s anti-abortion tension caused govt. to set up Royal Commission on Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion
  1. took submissions from both sides and presented report and recommendations in 1977
    1. abortion should be further restricted. Passing of Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act - procedures that were allowed for abortion and the Amendment to the Crimes act, which outlined the grounds for abortion in December 1977
      1. uproar among feminists as rape was not grounds for abortion, neither foetal abnormality.
        Remuera clinic closed as a result

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Second wave of Feminism

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	Created by Olivia McKenzie almost 10 years ago