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Difficulty: MediumFeminist, LGBTQ+, and Minority Liberation Movements

Source: Shirley Chisholm, Representative from New York, speech before the House of Representatives, May 21, 1969.

"As a black person, I am no stranger to prejudice. But the truth is that in the political world I have been far oftener discriminated against because I am a woman than because I am black. Prejudice against blacks is becoming unacceptable although it will take years to eliminate it. But prejudice against women is still acceptable. There is very little understanding of the density of the prejudice against women."

The ideas expressed in the excerpt most directly reflect which of the following historical developments during the late 1960s and early 1970s?

  1. A
    A unified consensus among civil rights and feminist activists that legal reform should prioritize gender equality over racial justice
  2. B
    The elimination of New Deal social safety net programs by the federal government to finance new federal agencies for women
  3. The persistent legal, economic, and social inequalities experienced by women despite their growing integration into the public sphereAnswer
  4. D
    The redirecting of containment policies toward domestic social programs, which feminists claimed would automatically resolve gender discrimination

Answer

The persistent legal, economic, and social inequalities experienced by women despite their growing integration into the public sphere
The correct answer correctly identifies that the second-wave feminist movement arose in response to persistent social, economic, and legal inequalities that women continued to face, even as they entered public life and the workforce in greater numbers. Shirley Chisholm's speech addresses this discrepancy directly by pointing out that discrimination against women remained culturally and politically acceptable compared to progress being made on racial discrimination.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided historical stimulus.
The stimulus is a 1969 speech by Shirley Chisholm emphasizing that gender discrimination remains widely tolerated and entrenched, even as racial prejudice begins to face public opposition.
Identifying the author, context, and core argument of the source establishes the historical perspective being tested.
2
Evaluate the historical developments of the late 1960s and early 1970s related to women's rights.
The period was characterized by the rise of second-wave feminism, which sought to address systemic inequalities in employment, wages, and social expectations that persisted despite the growing number of women entering the workforce.
Connecting the source's complaints about 'prejudice against women' to the structural realities of the time allows for finding the matching historical development.
3
Differentiate the correct option from the distractors based on historical accuracy.
The option emphasizing persistent legal, economic, and social inequalities accurately represents the catalyst for the feminist mobilization of the era, while other options distort civil rights consensus, domestic programs, or containment policies.
Eliminating options that contain historical inaccuracies or misapply concepts ensures the selection of the most accurate response.

Key Concept

Feminist movement goals and challenges in the post-WWII era
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Feminist, LGBTQ+, and Minority Liberation Movements

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