🙋🏽‍♀️Gender in Modern American History Unit 11 – Gender and the Conservative Backlash

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Antifeminism involves opposition to the goals and principles of the feminist movement, often rooted in traditional gender roles and beliefs
• The New Right refers to a coalition of conservative political groups that emerged in the 1970s, emphasizing traditional social values and free-market economics
  • Included the Religious Right, neoconservatives, and libertarians
• Backlash describes a strong negative reaction to social or political change, in this context, resistance to feminist gains and gender equality progress
• Traditional gender roles prescribe distinct expectations and responsibilities for men and women based on cultural norms and beliefs
  • Examples include men as breadwinners and women as homemakers
• The Moral Majority was a prominent conservative political action group founded in 1979 by Jerry Falwell, focusing on social issues and "family values"
• Pro-family movement advocated for policies and cultural values that promoted traditional nuclear family structures and gender roles
• The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee legal equality regardless of sex, which faced conservative opposition

Historical Context

• The 1960s and 1970s witnessed significant social and cultural changes, including the women's liberation movement, sexual revolution, and civil rights activism
• Feminist activism challenged traditional gender norms and advocated for women's rights in areas such as employment, education, and reproductive freedom
• Roe v. Wade (1973) legalized abortion nationwide, sparking ongoing debates about reproductive rights and moral values
• Economic shifts, such as deindustrialization and the rise of the service sector, altered traditional male breadwinner roles and family structures
• The Cold War and fears of communism fueled conservative anxieties about social stability and traditional values
• Changing family dynamics, including rising divorce rates and single parenthood, contributed to concerns about the erosion of traditional gender roles

Roots of Conservative Gender Ideology

• Conservative gender ideology often draws from religious beliefs, particularly conservative Christianity, emphasizing biblical gender roles and family structures
• Essentialist views of gender argue that men and women have inherent, biologically determined differences in abilities, traits, and social roles
• Separate spheres ideology assigns women to the domestic realm of home and family, while men occupy the public sphere of work and politics
• Concerns about the decline of the traditional nuclear family and the perceived breakdown of social order fuel conservative gender politics
• Nostalgia for an idealized past, often the 1950s, informs conservative visions of proper gender roles and family life
• Resistance to feminist critiques of patriarchy and male dominance shapes conservative defenses of traditional gender hierarchies
• Anxieties about changing masculinities, such as the "crisis of masculinity" narrative, contribute to conservative gender discourse

Major Conservative Movements and Figures

• Phyllis Schlafly, a prominent conservative activist, led the successful campaign against the Equal Rights Amendment, arguing it would undermine traditional gender roles
• The Religious Right, exemplified by organizations like the Moral Majority and Focus on the Family, promoted conservative Christian values and opposed feminist goals
• The New Right coalition brought together various conservative groups to push for traditional social values and free-market economics
• Republican politicians like Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush embraced conservative gender politics and appointed conservative judges
• Conservative think tanks, such as the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute, provided intellectual support for conservative gender ideology
• The Promise Keepers, a Christian men's organization founded in 1990, promoted male leadership and traditional gender roles within families
• Independent Women's Forum, founded in 1992, advocated for conservative women's interests and critiqued feminist positions

Media and Cultural Representations

• Conservative media outlets, such as Fox News and talk radio, amplified conservative gender messages and critiques of feminism
• Antifeminist literature, like Marabel Morgan's "The Total Woman" (1973), promoted traditional gender roles and female submission to male authority
• Backlash books, such as Susan Faludi's "Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women" (1991), analyzed media and cultural resistance to feminism
• Advertising and popular culture often reinforced traditional gender stereotypes and roles, even as they incorporated elements of feminist empowerment
• Conservative celebrities and public figures, such as Anita Bryant and Phyllis Schlafly, used their platforms to promote traditional gender values
• Debates over women's representation in media, such as the portrayal of working mothers and sexual content, reflected competing gender ideologies

Political and Legal Developments

• Conservative opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) successfully prevented its ratification, arguing it would disrupt traditional gender roles and social structures
• Abortion became a key political issue, with conservatives advocating for restrictions or bans on the procedure as a matter of moral values and "fetal rights"
• Conservatives pushed for policies promoting heterosexual marriage and traditional family structures, such as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996
• Affirmative action programs aimed at increasing women's opportunities faced conservative resistance as a form of "reverse discrimination" against men
• Controversies over issues like sex education, contraception access, and LGBTQ+ rights reflected competing visions of gender and sexuality
• Conservative appointees to the Supreme Court, such as Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, shaped legal decisions on gender-related issues
• Welfare reform efforts, such as the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (1996), disproportionately affected low-income women and reinforced traditional gender expectations

Impact on Gender Equality Progress

• The defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment was a significant setback for constitutional guarantees of gender equality
• Conservative backlash slowed or reversed progress on issues like abortion rights, pay equity, and workplace discrimination protections
• The promotion of traditional gender roles and family structures limited women's opportunities and choices in areas like education, employment, and politics
• Antifeminist rhetoric and stereotypes, such as the "angry feminist" trope, undermined public support for feminist goals and activism
• Conservative policies and cultural messages reinforced gender inequalities and power imbalances, particularly for women of color and low-income women
• The marginalization of feminist perspectives in media and political discourse narrowed the range of gender issues and solutions considered
• Ongoing debates over issues like reproductive rights, sexual harassment, and gender identity reflect the enduring influence of conservative gender ideology

Contemporary Relevance and Ongoing Debates

• Conservative gender politics continue to shape contemporary debates over issues like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and workplace equity
• The #MeToo movement and renewed attention to sexual harassment and assault have sparked backlash and defensive reactions from some conservatives
• Controversies over transgender rights, particularly in areas like school policies and sports participation, reflect ongoing tensions between gender equality and traditional gender beliefs
• The conservative-leaning Supreme Court and federal judiciary have made decisions impacting gender-related issues, such as the Dobbs v. Jackson (2022) decision overturning Roe v. Wade
• Conservative women politicians and activists, such as Sarah Palin and Marjorie Taylor Greene, have gained prominence while promoting traditional gender roles and opposing feminist positions
• Debates over toxic masculinity, consent, and gender-based violence highlight the continued relevance of feminist analysis and the need to challenge patriarchal norms
• Intersectional approaches to gender equality, which consider the overlapping impacts of race, class, and other identities, challenge both conservative gender ideology and limitations of mainstream feminist movements