Women's Role in Contemporary America

This recording is a public hearing on Women's Role in Contemporary America. This event was part of a five-day-long session of public hearings held by the City Commission on Human Rights, according to a September 22nd article in the New York Times. The recording is presumably missing an opening speech from Mayor John V. Lindsay and a later talk by Human Rights Commissioner Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Hon. Carol Greitzer, a member of the City Council of New York, comments on three areas in which she has introduced legislation to combat sex discrimination: housing, public accommodations, and employment. According to Greitzer, women are not adequately represented in government. Policy is made almost exclusively by men, "fluctuating between positions of chivalry and chauvinism, [who] are simply ignorant of the vast scope of discrimination against women." She cites a recent executive order passed by Mayor Lindsay to curb this sexism in hiring practices. Providing examples of discrimination in education, housing, and employment, Greitzer asserts that once employment discrimination is remedied, issues in other areas will fade away.

This speech is followed by public testimony from the audience. The first speaker called to the microphone is Dr. Ann Steinman, who describes her research program (called Male Female Family Research) on the psychological effects of sex discrimination. The research investigates women and men's expectations on the woman's role in a family in an age of unprecedented technological advancement and contraception that is less demanding of women's expected domestic responsibilities.

After a missing break in the recording, the audio continues in the middle of a panel discussion. The speaker [Lucy?] is discussing the need for political control that is representative of the electorate and issues related to childcare. The next speaker represents a women's liberation group at Columbia University and describes discriminatory practices on campus that affect female professors and students. The moderator then asks the panel to discuss topics such as; Are men the enemy? What privileges are men going to have to give up? Have women achieved a unity that is distorted in the press? Has the movement become radicalized?

The hearing continues with more public testimony. The first speaker is Council Member Carter Burden who speaks on the topic of discrimination in housing, particularly women denied housing because of age or marital status. He is proposing a bill to limit this kind of discrimination.

Mrs. Judith Herman of the National Project on Ethnic America insists that the movement must appeal to lower middle class white ethnic groups to build a coalition.

Dorothy Thomas, a historian, outlines the history of women's rights movements in America and emphasizes the need to make alliances with male legislators to spur change.

Victoria Stephens of the Young Workers Liberation League asserts that women of color face the worst discrimination and that the fight against racism is essential to the Women's Liberation Movement.

Felicia Spritzer, an NYPD Lieutenant, talks about discrimination in the police force, especially in the promotion of women to higher ranked positions.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 151432
Municipal archives id: T7603