The Women’s Liberation Movement
The women’s liberation movement that gained momentum in the 1960s was not an entirely new social phenomenon. Lee calls this a second wave because the first attempts to draw attention to women’s problems were made earlier (25). Through the efforts of small groups and widespread protest campaigns, in the second half of the 20th century, women from different countries actively promoted the protection of their rights. Bruley examines the course of this movement in the UK and notes the role of post-war reforms as triggers for females to demand changes in their social status and gain more rights (68). In general, this movement is part of the spectrum of a broad feminist idea that has influenced social and other spheres of life, including art. This paper is aimed at analyzing four different art objects that are relevant to feminism and either anticipate or summarized the events of the 1960s.
Music Video
As an example of an art object that touches on the idea of feminism, one can cite a modern music video by Ava Max, a famous dance-pop singer. Her song is a hymn to feminine power and emphasizes females’ value in a world they could rule (Ava Max – Kings & Queens). Notably, there are no men in this music video, only women. Released in 2020, the video is a retrospective of the events of the women’s liberation movement and concerns it indirectly. In addition, this art object does not condemn the lack of women’s rights but speaks about the potential opportunities that women could achieve in their world, which also underlines the indirect connection. However, the current situation differs from that more than half a century ago, when, as Lee states, feminism manifested itself in more radical forms (27). Ava Max does not pursue special political views, but her work shows that from a social standpoint, she is ready to speak out against the oppression of females. Thus, the proposed music video differs from art objects in the era of active movement by its less aggressive and categorical presentation.
Book
Another example is the book The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, published in 1963. The author calls gender inequality “the problem that has no name” and emphasizes the importance of women’s struggle for freedom in various fields, including education, politics, labor, and other areas (Friedan 15). The book is a contemporary of the liberation movement and can be considered one of the catalysts that prompted a massive wave of protests. Friedan directly emphasizes the importance of proactive action by ordinary women and presents the image of “the suburban housewife” who cannot fulfill herself in life (31). Based on the author’s position, this is clear that she adheres to radical views, including in politics, since one of her demands is the admission of women to the ruling elites (Friedan 25). This book was a breakthrough in feminist literature, and Bruley cites it as an influential work (75). Therefore, this art object is one of the strongest from the perspective of the effect on the masses.
Poem
Adrienne Rich is the author who devoted a substantial part of her creative career to poetry on the theme of women’s oppression. An example of one of her famous poems is “Diving into the Wreck,” which entered her collection and became one of the vivid reflections of the author’s anxiety (Rich 22). The collection was published in the early 1970s, although the poem itself was written earlier and was a direct retrospective of the recently developed liberation movement. While Rich does not talk about humiliation directly, she uses understandable symbols about oppression, such as “the book of myths,” to show the deceitful nature of equality (22). This poem has retained its value and is considered an outstanding call for change associated with the poetess’s personal experiences. She does not express her political position directly, but the social context is clear: “you breathe differently down here,” which can mean gender division (Rich 23). Thus, this poem is consistent with the 1960s mood, although the author’s style differs from the radicalism of other writers and poetesses.
TV Series
As another example of the pop culture movement for equality, the American TV series called Sex, and the City can be cited. It represents a modern adaptation of emancipation when four successful and free women have an opportunity to realize themselves in life and choose their individual paths (Sex and the City). It does not directly reflect the events of the liberation movement, but its background is associated with the idea of the struggle for gender equality, which manifests itself in the freedom of choice. The main focus of the TV series is on social life, and political nuances are omitted. Sex and the City is a hymn to women’s independence and the result of the active work of activists in the 1960s. Thus, it highlights the success of the previous efforts, although the events in the series have little to do with those earlier. At the same time, Bruley mentions social mobility as one of the aspects to which women of the 1960s aspired (76). Sex and the City fulfills this goal and reflects total freedom, thus showing the value of the liberation movement.
Works Cited
“Ava Max – Kings & Queens [Official Music Video].” YouTube, uploaded by Ava Max, Web.
Bruley, Sue. “’It Didn’t Just Come out of Nowhere Did It?’: The Origins of the Women’s Liberation Movement in 1960s Britain.” Oral History, 2017, pp. 67-78.
Friedan, Betty. The Feminine Mystique. W. W. Norton & Company, 1963.
Lee, Choonib. “Women’s Liberation and Sixties Armed Resistance.” Journal for the Study of Radicalism, vol. 11, no. 1, 2017, pp. 25-52.
Rich, Adrienne. Diving into the Wreck: Poems 1971-1972. W. W. Norton & Company, 1973.
Sex and the City. Created by Darren Star, HBO, 1998-2004.