The Unfinished Feminist Agenda: The Shifting Forum

• Published in: The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Vol. 515; no. 1; pp. 140 - 150
• Main Author: Aliotta, Jilda M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Sage Publications 01-05-1991; SAGE Publications; A. L. Hummel for the American Academy of Political and Social Science; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: ABORTION; Agenda; Courts; EDUCATION; Ethics; FEMALE SEX; FEMININE POLITICS; Feminism; Gender discrimination; Gender equality; History; Judicial Decisions; Legal Cases; Legislation; Legislatures; Men; Politics; Pregnancy; Sex discrimination; Social conditions & trends; Social Movements; SUPREME COURT (ALL NATIONS); United States of America; Womens rights; Womens Roles; Working women
• ISSN: 0002-7162; 1552-3349
• DOI: 10.1177/0002716291515001012

During the twenty-year period from 1960 to 1980, the legal status of American women changed dramatically. Federal policy shifted from reinforcing social and economic discrimination to providing remedies for those who experienced discrimination. While Congress was active in initiating many of these changes, much of the credit for their implementation must go to the federal courts, especially the U. S. Supreme Court. In the 1980s, however, the federal courts including the Supreme Court became less receptive to the feminist agenda. This situation has forced women's groups to appeal to Congress and state legislatures to reverse or limit the damage created by unfavorable court decisions. The case histories of Title IX of the education amendments of 1972 and legalized abortion illustrate this shift in forum.