Much like the 1870s and 1880s, women joined women’s groups. However instead of campaigns for temperance, they focused on issues such as:
- Health and abortion.
- Marriage and divorce.
- Rights for older women and working women.
The Situation by 1992
Despite the success of the conservative backlash against feminism and the ERA, the 1980s saw an expansion in education for women.
- In 1986 half of all undergraduate and master’s degrees went to women.
- However, the old culture persisted, the proportion of women in STEM remained, and still remains, much lower.
- Fewer than 8% of engineers in 1990 were women.
There were still limited numbers of women in decision making positions.
- It took until 1981 for a woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court.
- By 1993 there were 7 female senators in Congress.
Wholesale changes of women holding major government posts had still not occurred by 1992.
