Agency, Voice, and the Evolution (AVE) of Women at Saint Mary’s, 1920-2023: Spring 2023

Questioning of Social Activities

Popular social activities for women were called into question by second-wave feminism. On one hand, pageants and balls in the South Bend area were popular in the 1960s and continued into the 1970s, as seen by a newspaper clipping titled, "Presentation debs have a ball." This article announces that two Saint Mary’s students, Deborah Marie Moloney and Mary Ann Brantman, were debutantes presented at the 15th annual Presentation Ball in 1972.

On the other hand, protests began to appear, such as the “Freedom Trash Can” demonstration of 1968 in Atlantic City, that occurred in opposition to the Miss America beauty pageant. This demonstration stood up against the material and superficial expectations associated with women. For example, they threw high heels, fake eyelashes, girdles, and wigs away as women were expected to dress according to societal beauty standards.

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