Sociology 699F: Gender & Social Change

Ferree, 1974

Decline in sexism <- Women's movement

Model

• DV: Would you vote for a woman for President?
• sudden increase between 1969 and 1972
• 
Attitudes towards women

• but 1969 to 1972 was also shift from Gallup to NORC
• IV: Women's movement
• "no nationwide publicity until late 1969"
• better evidence of publicity?

Results:

• Change more from women than men
• Change more from traditionally "tolerant" groups: educated, young
• Attitudes towards women have become like other tolerance/prejudice attitudes.
• This suggests that the feminists succeeded in getting women (at least) to understand their structural disadvantages like other disadvantaged groups.
• But where did the women's movement come from? Is it exogenous?

Implications:

• Again, timing & sudden change are important. (cf. Goldin and Katz, 2002)
• What is the impact of social movements on macro change?
• "Zeitgeist" & other cultural changes need to be incorporated.