Previously I had always considered power movements to only be about protesting, and demanding change for whatever thing people disagreed with. However after reading about the power movements of the 1970’s i have a deeper and more complete understanding of why these movements and need for change took place. These movements were often centered around identity, liberation and resistance to inequality and mistreatment. They also gave people the opportunity to come together and collectively voice the need for change in society or a system. It also helped people create a place for themselves in society, and make it known they would no longer be overlooked or mistreated.
Disabled people were often ridiculed and placed in an institution(which often tried to keep them hidden from society), or were looked at as objects of entertainment in circuses. In a “ Brief History of Disability Rights” I learned that“Since the mid 1900s, people with disabilities have pushed for the recognition of disability as an aspect of identity that influences the experiences of an individual, not as the sole-defining feature of a person.” (ADL)The movement fought for equal opportunities with employment, access to public services and access to public education for children with disabilities. Even when society treated them as weak or incapable, they continually proved these stereotypes were untrue.
The women's power movement also originated because of a desire for equal opportunities, and a change within society. Women were expected to be a wife, mother and homemaker, women pursuing a career after marriage was very unusual and often looked down on. They wanted equal opportunities, in the workforce, education, and in society. The women's movement of the 1970’s included women of all race’s who wanted a change, and they often got together in local women's liberation groups to discuss how they could make changes. “The energy of women’s liberation activists produced huge results in the early 1970s. Title IX banned gender discrimination in most educational institutions. Domestic violence centers and rape crisis hotlines won public funding. Employers began to address.” (JSTOR) These women's groups show how powerful a collective voice can be and what changes can be made because of that.
The Black Power Movement was another major group demanding change in the 1970’s. In the “Foundations of Black Power” by Smithsonian I learned that the 1970’s black power movement was less about integration into society but more about creating organizations and politics geared towards their needs. “They insisted that African Americans should have power over their own schools, businesses, community services and local government. They focused on combating centuries of humiliation by demonstrating self-respect and racial pride as well as celebrating the cultural accomplishments of black people around the world. “ (Smithsonian) Black power was about identity, community, and changing the idea that being black was something to be ashamed of or make you less of a person but instead it was something to be proud of.
These movements all are very centered around community and through these groups they were able to empower each other so they did not feel like they had to face this fight on their own. Despite society ignoring them for decades these groups were all able to bring about justice and change in the 1970’s.
“A Brief History of the Disability Rights Movement” ADL
https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/brief-history-disability-rights-movement
Gershon,Livia. “What Was Women’s Liberation?” JSTOR Daily, September 11 2020, https://daily.jstor.org/what-was-womens-liberation/
“The Foundations of Black Power” Smithsonian
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/foundations-black-power
Disabled people were often ridiculed and placed in an institution(which often tried to keep them hidden from society), or were looked at as objects of entertainment in circuses. In a “ Brief History of Disability Rights” I learned that“Since the mid 1900s, people with disabilities have pushed for the recognition of disability as an aspect of identity that influences the experiences of an individual, not as the sole-defining feature of a person.” (ADL)The movement fought for equal opportunities with employment, access to public services and access to public education for children with disabilities. Even when society treated them as weak or incapable, they continually proved these stereotypes were untrue.
The women's power movement also originated because of a desire for equal opportunities, and a change within society. Women were expected to be a wife, mother and homemaker, women pursuing a career after marriage was very unusual and often looked down on. They wanted equal opportunities, in the workforce, education, and in society. The women's movement of the 1970’s included women of all race’s who wanted a change, and they often got together in local women's liberation groups to discuss how they could make changes. “The energy of women’s liberation activists produced huge results in the early 1970s. Title IX banned gender discrimination in most educational institutions. Domestic violence centers and rape crisis hotlines won public funding. Employers began to address.” (JSTOR) These women's groups show how powerful a collective voice can be and what changes can be made because of that.
The Black Power Movement was another major group demanding change in the 1970’s. In the “Foundations of Black Power” by Smithsonian I learned that the 1970’s black power movement was less about integration into society but more about creating organizations and politics geared towards their needs. “They insisted that African Americans should have power over their own schools, businesses, community services and local government. They focused on combating centuries of humiliation by demonstrating self-respect and racial pride as well as celebrating the cultural accomplishments of black people around the world. “ (Smithsonian) Black power was about identity, community, and changing the idea that being black was something to be ashamed of or make you less of a person but instead it was something to be proud of.
These movements all are very centered around community and through these groups they were able to empower each other so they did not feel like they had to face this fight on their own. Despite society ignoring them for decades these groups were all able to bring about justice and change in the 1970’s.
“A Brief History of the Disability Rights Movement” ADL
https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/brief-history-disability-rights-movement
Gershon,Livia. “What Was Women’s Liberation?” JSTOR Daily, September 11 2020, https://daily.jstor.org/what-was-womens-liberation/
“The Foundations of Black Power” Smithsonian
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/foundations-black-power