#European History Study Guide: Feminism, Marriage, and Power (20th-21st Century)

Welcome! This guide is designed to help you ace your exam by focusing on key concepts and providing clear, concise explanations. Let's get started!

#1. Feminism: Shifting Roles and Status

#1.1. 20th Century Transformations

*   **Suffrage:**  Gained the right to vote in many countries.
*   **Workforce:**  Massive entry into the workforce, especially during WWII.

#1.2. Second-Wave Feminism (Mid-1960s to Late 1980s)

• Key Issues:
  • Equal Pay: Demanded equal compensation for equal work.
  • Education & Careers: Advocated for greater access to education and professional opportunities.
  • Bodily Autonomy: Fought for control over their own bodies, including sexual liberation and reproductive rights.
• Leadership: Primarily led by educated, middle-class women.
• Goal: To challenge patriarchal systems and structures.
• Impact: Significant influence on politics and laws, especially in reproductive rights, domestic violence, and workplace equality.

#1.3. Key Figure: Simone de Beauvoir

• Core Argument: Women have historically been treated as the "other," leading to their oppression.

*Simone de Beauvoir: A leading voice in feminist thought.*

#1.4. Feminism in Eastern Europe

• Limited Growth: Any form of dissent was seen as a threat to the state.
• Propaganda: State-controlled media portrayed women as equal to men, hindering the growth of feminist movements.
• Examples: Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Poland. *

#2. Marriage and Reproduction: Expanding Options

#2.1. New Modes of Choice

• Reproductive Technologies:
  • In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF): Offered new possibilities for conception.
  • Birth Control Pill: Provided greater control over family planning.

*The birth control pill: A key factor in women's reproductive autonomy.*

#2.2. Birth Control Pill: Varied Acceptance

• Western Europe:
  • France: Widely accepted and used, leading to decreased maternal mortality and increased social mobility.
  • United Kingdom: Initially met with resistance but eventually became widely available.
  • Italy, Spain, Portugal: Initially faced opposition from the Catholic Church, but usage increased in the 70s and 80s.
• Eastern Europe: *

*   **Practical Limitations:** Access varied by country due to economic, cultural, and political factors.

#3. Positions of Power: Women in Politics

#3.1. Breaking Barriers

• Key Examples:
  • Margaret Thatcher (England): First female Prime Minister, ushered in a new era of conservatism.
  • Edith Cresson (France): Only female French Prime Minister (1991).
  • Mary Robinson (Ireland): First female President (1990-1997).

#Final Exam Focus

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Key Topics to Review

• Second-Wave Feminism: Understand its goals, key issues, and impact.
• Simone de Beauvoir: Know her contributions and the significance of "The Second Sex."
• Reproductive Rights: Be familiar with the impact of the birth control pill and IVF.
• Women in Politics: Recognize the significance of women holding high political office.
• East vs. West: Compare and contrast the experiences of women in Eastern and Western Europe.

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• Essay Questions: Expect to analyze the causes and effects of feminist movements and changes in women's roles.
• Document-Based Questions (DBQs): Be prepared to interpret primary and secondary sources related to women's rights and experiences.
• Multiple Choice: Focus on key figures, events, and concepts related to feminism and women's history.

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• Oversimplification: Don't assume all women had the same experiences; consider class, region, and political context.
• Ignoring Eastern Europe: Remember the unique challenges faced by women in communist states.
• Forgetting Key Figures: Be sure to know the contributions of individuals like Simone de Beauvoir.

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• Time Management: Allocate time wisely for each question type.
• Read Carefully: Pay close attention to the wording of each question.
• Stay Calm: Take deep breaths and approach the exam with confidence. You've got this!

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• Think of the acronym "POWER" to remember key areas of change: Politics, Options (reproduction), Workforce, Education, Rights.

Good luck on your exam! You are well-prepared and ready to succeed! 💡