1977 - 2001 End of the Twentieth Century The Information Age

1. The conservative movement that dominated political and social movements in the 1980s continued in the 1990s as Democrats moved to the center and embraced neoliberalism. Women from different backgrounds participated in this movement.
2. A new wave of feminist activism focused on women’s rights in the workplace and campaigned against sexual harassment. This movement included women of different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.
3. Americans had greater access to information through television and the internet. Women used these new technologies to advance their position in society.
4. Women of different backgrounds contributed extensively to American culture and society, shaping new perceptions of what American womanhood looked like.

Photo of: “[Senator Barbara Mikulski standing with women senatorial candidates (left to right) Carol Moseley-Braun, Barbara Boxer, Senator Patty Murray and others at 1992 Democratic National Convention, Madison Square Garden, New York City]” Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

The Information Age

The strong conservative response against two decades of social and political upheaval dominated political thought from the late 1970s through the 1980s. With the arrival of the 1990s, conservatism remained a powerful political force. Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential election win sent a Democrat to the White House for the first time in twelve years. It was emblematic of a political change that saw Democrats move to the political center and embrace neoliberalism. This period saw new laws and policies that affected lower-income households and immigrant families. As women of different backgrounds gained more political power, they stood up for the rights of minority communities. Through formal elected positions and grassroots activism, women played important leadership roles, addressing issues such as police violence, the AIDS crisis, discrimination against people with disabilities, and the importance of LGBTQ+ rights. 

Women also continued the longstanding fight for gender equality. The 1991 televised testimony of Anita Hill, who spoke openly about the sexual harassment she experienced from Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, inspired a major resurgence of the feminist movement. The so-called third wave of feminism included grassroots activism, women running for Congress, and precedent-setting Supreme Court cases. First Lady Hillary Clinton used her platform to speak up for women’s rights. The generation of girls born during or after the 1970s grew up under policies like Title IX, which propelled women into the highest levels of sports, science, and space. This new generation was raised under more gender equality than any generation of American women before, which even influenced girls’ toys. And yet, there was still more work to be done. 

Underlying this social and political energy were technological advances that changed how Americans accessed information about the world around them. Cable news television and the Internet made current events increasingly more accessible. The experiences of American women in the late 1990s and early 2000s were significantly impacted not only by major events, but also by the way the media portrayed those events.  From political scandals to national tragedies, the media gendered and stereotyped the experiences of women.

But no event changed American life like the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which took the United States to war in the Middle East. Political struggles, the role of the media, and a changing global landscape converged and continued in response to the attacks, and would have lasting impacts on foreign affairs and daily life in the United States.

1. How did women of different backgrounds contribute to the new feminist movement? How was this feminist movement different from those that preceded it?
2. How did the feminist movement of the 1970s continue to provide women with opportunities in the 1990s? How did race and class influence these opportunities?
3. How did the media and increased access to information influence how women’s lives were perceived? Why does that matter?
4. What roles did women play in major domestic and foreign affairs?