The movement gained momentum during the U.S. government's extensive military intervention in Vietnam.
Widespread conflicts developed in American society
Regarded the war in Vietnam, race relations, sexualmores, women's rights, traditional manners of authority, experimentation with psychoactive drugs, and unrealistic ideas of the "American Dream."
The phrase "the Man is keeping me down" was introduced and commonly used to describe oppression. The phrase "stick it to the Man" encourages resistance to authority, and essentially means "fight back"
Youth began to distrust and dislike the police force, not only because of the fear of police brutality during political protests, but also on police corruption
New cultural groups emerged, including the pop music of the British band The Beatles and the concurrent rise of hippie culture
These organizations were primarily concerned with the legal and economic obstacles facing women.
A younger branch included a larger number of smaller groups that focused specifically on different activities and created Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
Wanted reforms on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, women's suffrage,sexual harassment and sexual violence.
Equal pay in the same jobs was another issue
Women protesters broke into two groups.
Mainstream and radical feminists
Mainstream wanted change through the media
Radicals used aggressive tactics “man hating women’s libbers.”
Radicals tried to physically embarrass men, and embarrass male based companies
In the end laws were passed regarding abortion, homosexuality and divorce making it easier for women to make choices
Birth control pill also gave them options on when to start a family
Summary
Throughout the 1960s there were many protests and major disputes between different cultural groups. The conflict began when the peopler who had been born during the baby boom, grew up. They were distressed over the awful treatment of minorities, the lack of human rights, nuclear weaponry, American influence on Canada, the state of war in Vietnam and the skewed perception the generation that was in control had, on society. Younger people began to 'fight the power' and distrust the government. Pop culture came along with new music that fought for equality as well. Many of the new youth subculture listened and loved the new 'hippie' bands.
As well as these protests coming from the youth culture, women began to fight back as well. They wanted equality and no longer wanted the mistreatment and discrimination they were enduring. Many women were just protesting through the media but some radicals took it to the extreme, physically embarrassing and attacking men. In the end women were given more rights and it was easier for women to make choices and express their opinions and needs.