The redstockings manifesto

History 202B: Spring 2013

Primary Source Assignment #7

Women in mid-century America

1. Examine the three images (Rosie the Riveter, 1942, Van Heusen Tie Ad, 1951, Life Magazine, 1971) and the Enjoli Perfume commercial, 1977 here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X4MwbVf5OA. Using details you see, what do you think were social attitudes about women’s relationship to men at work and home in each of the images? Describe what you see as the change in the view of women over time, as it is represented in the images and video.

· In Rosie the Riveter image, the phrase “we can do it” present different kind of women who is skilled and able to work and replace men in factories. The attitude in this image is more of proving that women are strong enough and able to handle jobs that men only use to work in.

· In Van Heusen Tie Ad, the image promote the same old role for men and women. Men is the master of the house and the phrase “ man’s world” indicate that she lives in his world therefore and his role, and her place as presented here is to work in his servent and her job is to take care of his need.

· in the life magazine cover it present a different kind of women, a women that is more in touch with her feminist side, that dosent necessary wanna prove her ability to do hard work as in Rosie the Riveter nor a one that wanna be a housewife working in the comfort of her man.

· In the Enjoli Perfume commercial it promote for a women that have a multi life style. A one who still take care of her house but also have a decent job not a factory one as well as knowing how to have fun and enjoy her time. It is kinda smiller to what a man life looks like.

2. What does Friedan mean by the phrase “the problem that has no name”? What kinds of women seem to be excluded from her account of the problem?

The problem that many women across America had but where isolated from sharing it and thought for many years that this problem was a problem in them selves not a problem that so many other women had. The idea back then that the life they had is a dream life for women around the world, to have a house and a husband to care of them and to keep her house beautiful and clean is promoted to be the ideal life for women. Yet this life wasn't satisfying enough and these women experienced a feeling of unhappiness and dissatisfaction with their lives and wanted to have more than to a husband, children and a beautiful house.

3. What does the Manifesto mean by its final sentence: “This time we are going all the way”? Why does Redstockings believe that all men are oppressors of women?

Meaning that they are determined about getting women liberation and willing to take it to the highest level. Redstockings believe all men are opressores because male supremacy is the oldest form of domination and the most basic one and all other form of domination are just a extension of the male supremacy thats why male hence men are oppressor because all form of stricture were male oriented and based on the idea of male supremacy.

4. Why does Schlafly believe that the Equal Rights Amendment would actually hurt women? How does Schlafly’s picture of the status of women differ from that of the Redstockings Manifesto?

· Because it will let men “off the hook” by denying their responsibilities to their wives. Also because Schlafly believes that equal right is a downgarde from their “special privilege.” Also because equal right will let women subject to the draft as well as women will ose the child support and alimony under the ERA therefore Schalfy believe it will hurt women.

· Redstockings are in the different side of the argument beleving that the whole system us built on the male supremacy and beleving that women are being superior and therefore the believe in the equality between male and female and to abolish all the layers of oppression in doing so. in the other hand Schalfy believe that equal right will result in hurting women and losing her special privilege.