Gender & Sexuality
The American Sexual Revolution of the 1960s was a period of great societal and political change wherein young, educated, and politically-engaged individuals sought to challenge the status quo.
The Sexual Revolution consisted of many different minority groups popular during the time, such as feminists, LGBT supporters, and ‘hippies’ who tended to engage in pre-marital and unprotected sex.
This revolution sought to overthrow the traditional views and beliefs about sexuality by embracing The Pill, homosexuality, and the rejection of patriarchal ideals by feminists.
The Sexual Revolution consisted of many different minority groups popular during the time, such as feminists, LGBT supporters, and ‘hippies’ who tended to engage in pre-marital and unprotected sex.
This revolution sought to overthrow the traditional views and beliefs about sexuality by embracing The Pill, homosexuality, and the rejection of patriarchal ideals by feminists.
Websites
Take a look at the following websites about women's evolving sexuality during the revolution.
Take a look at the following website about homosexuality in the 1960s.
- "Sexuality & Modernity" - http://www.isis.aust.com/stephan/writings/sexuality/revo.htm
- "The Pill and the Sexual Revolution" - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pill/peopleevents/e_revolution.html
Take a look at the following website about homosexuality in the 1960s.
- "Gay Life in the 1950s and 1960s" - http://1967andallthat.blogspot.ca/2007/05/gay-life-in-1950s-and-1960s.html
Think about it...
1. Respond to the following questions from the PBS website ‘The Pill and the Sexual Revolution’:
“"Is the Pill regarded as a license for promiscuity? Can its availability to all women of childbearing age lead to sexual anarchy?"”
2. "Everyone knows what The Pill is. It is a small object -- yet its potential effect upon our society many be even more devastating than the nuclear bomb." - Why might the author of this quote compare the pill to a nuclear bomb?
3. a) Look around on the internet to find out more about homosexuality being classified as an illness in the 1960s.
b) What year was homosexuality declassified as an illness in the DSM?
c) Look around on the internet to find out about the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Write a brief 3-5 sentence paragraph summarizing what the riots were, where they took place, and what the outcome(s) was.
“"Is the Pill regarded as a license for promiscuity? Can its availability to all women of childbearing age lead to sexual anarchy?"”
2. "Everyone knows what The Pill is. It is a small object -- yet its potential effect upon our society many be even more devastating than the nuclear bomb." - Why might the author of this quote compare the pill to a nuclear bomb?
3. a) Look around on the internet to find out more about homosexuality being classified as an illness in the 1960s.
b) What year was homosexuality declassified as an illness in the DSM?
c) Look around on the internet to find out about the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Write a brief 3-5 sentence paragraph summarizing what the riots were, where they took place, and what the outcome(s) was.
Feminism in Music of the 1960s
Listen to the song "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore (1965). Look up the lyrics online if you need clarification.
Think about the following question...
4. In what ways does this song relate to the themes of the Sexual Revolution discussed in the websites listed on this page?
Think about the following question...
4. In what ways does this song relate to the themes of the Sexual Revolution discussed in the websites listed on this page?