Pregnancy Discrimination and 1970s Feminism
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The paper discusses the feminist movement of the 1970s, focusing on its approach to pregnancy discrimination, which initially did not emerge as a top priority. The work highlights that, while pregnancy discrimination was indeed an important issue, it took time to come into prominence and be represented within the feminist agenda until the final passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978-a poignant piece of legislation. By analyzing feminist manifestos, legislative records, and key writings from prominent feminists in ways that capture, at each stage, how the movement adapted to various forms of discrimination. The adaptation shows how evolving priorities within the feminist movement influenced its overall strategy aimed at winning the struggle for gender equality. It also highlights how ongoing feminist activism has been changing through the resurgence against new challenges in movements that fight for broader social justice. These changes show the dynamic nature of feminist advocacy and its struggle for progress.
Author: Ning Zhou
Institution: City University of Hong Kong
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4408420181