User:Coconut818/Women in conservatism in the United States

Article Draft - Will

Goldwater campaign

A major source of conservative women's activism was in Southern California in the 1950s and 1960s, particularly in Orange County, California. Female conservative activists organized around their opposition to internationalism, Communism and the welfare state. These women mainly consisted of "suburban warriors," or middle class housewives who feared that their Christian nation was under attack. Increasing Cold War tensions and fears of Communism allowed for these women to mobilize groups such as the John Birch Society and the American Civil Liberties Union to pursue their political agendas.

In the early 1950s, local activist movements against liberal education reforms became an early source of organization for conservative women. As progressive school administrators attempted to desegregate public schools and implement non-traditional teaching methods, grassroots organizations run primarily by women mobilized to oppose these measures. Such organizations notably succeeded in ousting Pasadena superintendent Willard Goslin and Houston deputy superintendent George Ebey, attracting national media attention. Many conservative women were attracted to this cause, as the issue confronted several key principles for the emerging American conservative movement: traditionalism, anticommunism and skepticism of big government. Women, in this case, were well-positioned through their role as housewives to portray themselves as protectors of their local community and the principle of home rule against outsiders trying to radically transform children's education. In order to organize these local-level campaigns against education reforms, women activists created conservative political networks and study groups that would facilitate future advocacy of conservative causes.

They eventually backed politician Barry Goldwater and successfully campaigned for him to become the presidential candidate for the Republican Party in 1964. However, Goldwater lost the national election to Lyndon Johnson in a landslide. Still, his nomination illustrated the shift from moderation to more hardline stances in many members of the Republican Party. His campaign also showcased the success of conservative grassroots organizations and mobilization.

Throughout this period, women would continue to be heavily involved in organizations of conservative activists. After campaigns against progressive education reform galvanized conservative women in the early 1950s, many began to join the John Birch Society and associated organizations after JBS's formation in 1958. While the John Birch Society maintained a rigidly patriarchal structure, with many chapters only allowing women to serve coffee and food at their meetings, the organization helped to direct attention and resources toward other conservative groups dominated by women.

Among the conservative groups of the period, particularly in the hotbed of Southern California, conservative bookstores were a particularly effective institution for channeling the activist energies of conservative women. These stores sold polemics, novels, memoirs, and bumper stickers, all with an explicitly conservative (and anticommunist) bent. Sales served to disseminate information as well as to bring in money for conservative organizations. Many of these stores were staffed and run primarily by women, many of whom were affiliated with the John Birch Society.

Mama grizzlies

The term "mama grizzlies" originated from Sarah Palin's endorsement of female candidates in the 2010 primaries, whom she gave this title to. "Mama grizzly" was officially coined in Palin's May 2010 speech for the Susan B. Anthony List Pro-Life group, and it was later used in Palin's own advertisements. This description is used to describe conservative women who wish to play an active role in politics, whether it be through running for office or through campaigning for conservative ideas and topics. These women also refer to themselves as Susan B. Anthony feminists, agreeing with the ideas that Anthony argued for such as political activism but not the feminist ideas more modern than those, such as the pro-choice movement. Because this term originated from Palin's endorsement and was used in Palin's advertisements, it has been linked to her and the Tea Party, which she has affiliated with. These "mama grizzlies" are self-proclaimed conservative feminists, with Palin herself publicly identifying as a feminist in 2008. In the spread of this new classification for women, where women's advocacy took on a unique form, Palin called for a rise of a new breed of feminism, and this idea quickly came to popularity among right-wing women.

Conservative women played a key role in the Tea Party movement, often adopting populist rhetoric reminiscent of the "housewife populism" of the 1950s and 1960s. These women, most notably Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, attacked Barack Obama as an outsider and claimed to represent the interests of "Joe Six Pack." This brand of populism rose to prominence in the first two years of Obama's presidency, from 2008 to 2010, culminating in the Tea Party. Women were at its integral to the movement, as they represented 45 to 55 percent of members of Tea Party organizations and held a majority of leadership positions.

Critics of the "mama grizzly" viewpoint do not agree that Palin's ideas are feminist, such as her anti-abortion views. Palin's viewpoint has been opposed by socially liberal feminists, with some such as Jessica Valenti claiming that this angle was used to take advantage of the presence of feminists like Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential election cycle. Other complaints draw from the group's denial of systemic sexism and oppression due to gender, with critics believing that "mama grizzly" ideals could not be labeled as feminist if they were to dismiss these matters.

Article Draft - Aliza

The #MeToo movement (new section under "21st century politics"):

When the #MeToo movement surfaced, some conservatives embraced anti-feminist ideas to combat it. Some researchers have investigated the connection between political ideology and the perception of sexual harassment, finding that, in a survey of women, the number of instances of gender discrimination and sexual harassment reportedly experienced by conservative women is significantly lower than that for liberal women. Additionally, some research has found that political participation and the likelihood of voting in general elections are higher for women who have experienced gender discrimination, but that this finding is not a factor associated with this desire for participation among conservative women. There is also a significant gap in support for the #MeToo movement along party lines, as Democratic women report higher levels of support than Republican women.

There are mixed feelings towards the #MeToo movement from conservative women. Candace Owens, an outspoken conservative, tweeted back in 2018 that #MeToo painted women as " stupid, weak & inconsequential." Other conservative women, such as Mona Charen, have shared different sentiments, calling out the "hypocrites" in the Republican party "who brag about their extramarital affairs" and "brag about mistreating women."

Elevate PAC (addition to "organizations"):

Elevate PAC is a political action committee created by Elise Stefanik after the 2018 midterm elections to bolster support for female conservative candidates during their primaries. Since then, EPAC has backed 61 conservative women candidates, 27 of whom have won their respective elections.

Amy Coney Barrett (this is an addition to the "in 21st century politics" or "notable figures" section):

Amy Coney Barrett is a supreme court justice who was nominated and sworn in under the Trump administration after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing. Her nomination and eventual confirmation secured the conservative majority on the Supreme Court. Barrett leans more conservative on issues pertaining to abortion, gun, and other civil rights, such as in the case of Kanter v Barr, where Barrett explained that the right to bear arms should not be taken away from anyone but those convicted of dangerous felonies. Additionally, in June of 2022, Barrett voted to overturn Roe v Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization supreme court case, which removed national protections for abortion services.

Nikki Haley (21st century politics)

Nikki Haley is an Indian-American conservative politician. She served as South Carolina's first female governor from 2011-2018, and also served as the U.S. ambassador for the United Nations under former president Trump from 2017-2018. She is a candidate in the 2024 presidential election. While Haley has stated being the victim of race-based bullying, she dismisses claims that racism is a problem in the U.S. Moreover, Haley aligns herself against abortion rights, the expansion of medicaid and medicare, and the corporate income tax.

The Swearing-in Ceremony of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett

Nikki Haley Official Portrait

References