sent) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 also changed the political arena; this brought forth blacks to be elected to public office. These acts showed enormous progress in America.During this same time frame the womens movement was also fighting for rights. Denied constitutional rights because of their sex and traditional status, women looked for empowerment in many areas of American society. Tired of being viewed as only being able to be homemakers, this spurred women to voice their displeasure of their station in life. Statements from two notable figures, Dr Spock and Adlai Stevenson a Democratic Candidate for president, Dr Spock, a pediatrician, wrote a book The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, Telling women that they should stay home with their children if they wanted them to grow up stable and secure. Then Adlai Stevenson reinforced this statement when he told a group of female college students, your assignments in life are to be wives and mothers. (America Pathways to the Present)These statements spurred Betty Friedan to publish an explosive critique called The Feminine Mystique. In short Betty Friedan claimed advertisers, social scientists, public officials and other organizations, all encouraged women to seek-fulfillment by being subservient to men or bearing children. But lets look at the successes of womens rights. Women now serve in the Army where before they were banned. They have made much advancement, but there is still need for improvement. If their advances are deemed failure, just go back in time and do the comparison. In 1866 Elisabeth C. Stanton and Susan b. Anthony formed an American Equal Rights Association, an organization for white and black women and men dedicated to the goal of universal suffrage. (Lcweb2.loc.gov/amen/naw/naw/nawstime.html)The transformation of womens rights has improved immensely. This is proven by the accomplishments of present day. Women now hold many positions of power, bu...
