Question

How was 1970s radical feminism different from the new feminism of the 1960s?

a. The radical feminist movement was much larger than the new feminist movement.

b. Radical feminism harshly attacked the male power structure.

c. Radical feminism emphasized that women should search for personal fulfillment.

d. Radical feminism embraced stay-at-home motherhood.

Answer 1

The new feminism of the 1960s focused on reproductive rights, gender equality, and the right to work. In contrast, 1970s radical feminism was larger in size, harshly attacked the male power structure, and emphasized personal fulfillment.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the 1960s, the feminist movement known as the “new feminism” emerged. It focused on issues such as reproductive rights, gender equality, and the right to work. The new feminism aimed to challenge traditional gender roles and strive for greater opportunities and empowerment for women. On the other hand, the 1970s radical feminism was characterized by its larger size, harsh attack against the male power structure, and emphasis on personal fulfillment rather than stay-at-home motherhood. Both movements played significant roles in advancing women's rights.

Answer 2

b. Radical feminism harshly attacked the male power structure.

Like other 1960s struggles for equal rights, the women’s movement had taken a radical turn by the end of that decade. Feminist activists increasingly described sexism and male supremacy as the fundamental evil in society and called for a major re-ordering of gender roles. Much like advocates of Black Power and ethnic pride, some feminist organizers embraced separatism. They encouraged women to invest their political energies in female-led causes that made the liberation of women (rather than civil rights, socialism, disarmament, the end of the Vietnam War, or the decolonization of the less developed world) the primary objective.

Radical feminism, as this movement was called by the end of the 1960s, pushed public discussion of gender issues beyond the goals of equality and fulfillment and posed troubling questions about sexuality, reproduction, and childbearing. Radical feminists advocated public investments in childcare and pushed for the freedom to terminate an unwanted pregnancy - a goal that received a significant boost in 1973 when the Supreme Court legalized abortion. More provocatively, they also pointed to the dangers of maintaining sexual relationships with men.