Nancy E. McGlen

An Analysis of the U.S. Women's Rights Movements Rights as a Public Good

This paper divides the move for womens rights in the U.S. into three historical phases: (I) the early womens rights movement (1848-1875); (2) the suffrage movement (1890-1920); and, (3) the two branches of contempor- ary womens movements. A survey of the social movement literature is pre- sented. The authors then set out a hypothesis for the formation of the above womens rights movements. The causes of the three respective phases then are examined and the hypothesis tested. We conclude that the following elements are necessary to the initiation of a U.S. womens protest movement: (1) a sense of collective oppression; (2) an extant organizational base; (3) a communications network; and, (4) a critical mobilizing event. The success of these movements, however, may be tempered by the simultane- ous development of opposition organizations. The struggle for womens rights spans almost two centuries, although efforts have not been continuous. Periods during which organized pressure for womens rights has been keen often have been followed by years of little concerted effort. Analytically, three periods of high activity can be identified in which the womens movement was shaped and directed by organized political groups: (1) the early wo- mens rights movement (dating roughly from 1848 to 1875); (2) the