Second Wave Of Feminism

The second-wave feminism has been the driving force behind the Women’s Liberation Movement, which is synonymous within the twenty years in the later part of the twentieth century, beginning in 1960 and ending in 1980. The movement, in the past, had an impact on various aspects of social life to men and women; and this impact is still showcased in areas including, but not limited to; women’s health, fertility trends, laws and legislations, personal believes and religious discussions, interpersonal relationships and family roles, feminist issues, and gender relations.

The women’s liberation movement (or feminism as it is now known) of the 1960s and 1970s touched every home, business, and school (WA, 705). The movement even touched the sports and entertainment industries, in fact, “There are few areas of contemporary life untouched by feminism” (WA, 717). The word feminism in the early 1960’s wasn’t often used and when it was it was used with condescension or hatred. However, in the late sixties that changed thanks to a new group of women. This new diverse group of women included the: young, old, heterosexual, lesbians, working class, and even the privileged. This diverse group came together and collectively created the second wave of feminism.

Feminism is both an intellectual commitment and a political movement that seeks justice for women and the end of sexism in all forms. However, there are many different kinds of feminism. So some have found it useful to think of the women's movement in the US as occurring in "waves" . On the wave model, the struggle to achieve basic political rights during the period from the mid-19th century until the 1920's counts as "first wave" feminism waned between the two world wars, to be "revived" in the late 1960's and early 1970's as "second wave" feminism. The concept of 'waves' is not meant to imply that organised feminism disappeared in the

Introduction The second wave of feminism was all about liberation and the invention of the birth control pill allowed women to have complete control over their bodies. This was important because prior to the pill the men had complete control and this granted women bodily autonomy. The invention of the pill led to the need to be legalized which feminists were required to come together for as there were mass amounts of criticism. But this was not the only event that influenced the second wave; this leads to the question ‘to what extent did the invention of the birth control pill contribute to second wave feminism?’

Feminism is the fight for equality between the sexes. It can be dated back to the mid-19th century with women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. The first wave feminist procured the right to vote for American women. The following second and third waves built upon what the founding feminists created. The second wave of feminism was set off by the disenchantment women across America were experiencing. This disenchantment was caused by the nuclear family and the roles that the women in the 1950s were thrust into. The second wave is said to have lasted from the 1960s-1980s. Sometime after the 1980s, most likely the early to mid-1990s, third wave feminists began to rear their heads. The third wave built upon the advancements made

In the early 1960s and the late 1980s, the second wave occurred in the United Kingdom and United States, like the first wave. The second wave was focused on equality. In 1966, the quote “Women’s Liberation,” was first printed in public. These feminist in this period went as far as bra burning to tell the world that woman and men should have equal rights.

Women now were educated, voting, and even aiding their states during war times. In the U.S. many activists were fighting for similar issues addressed by the predecessors, however they were able to take things further, since there was a precedent. Instead of just gaining access to higher education, Second-Wavers were pushing for Women’s Studies classes and departments, and for prominent historical women to be included in academia. Women in the U.S. were also beginning the enduring battle of saving the environment. “Second-Wave feminists brought internal attention to the problems caused by violence against women and by poor environmental practices.”

Towards the end of the twentieth century, feminist women in America faced an underlying conflict to find their purpose and true meaning in life. “Is this all?” was often a question whose answer was sought after by numerous women reaching deeper into their minds and souls to find what was missing from their life. The ideal second-wave feminist was defined as a women who puts all of her time into cleaning her home, loving her husband, and caring for her children, but such a belief caused these women to not only lose their identity within her family but society as well. The emotions that feminist women were feeling at this time was the internal conflict that caused for social steps to be taken in hopes of

Second wave feminism first emerged in the wake of World War II in the late 1940’s. It originated as a response to the post war boom. After World War II, the United States’ economy flourished, the population soared, capitalism emerged more triumphant than ever, and suburbia expanded like never before. The socio-economic state of the U.S. at this time lent itself spectacularly to middle-class familial expansion. During this time there was also a marked and, many would argue, a conscious effort to return to the patriarchal gender roles in place prior to World War II. That is to say, the nuclear family was in its glory days with the man being the undeniable head of house, and the woman his subservient housewife. The social movement toward female domesticity was heavily advocated through media propaganda which depicted the woman as a wife and mother exclusively, in the closed sphere of the home. We have previously seen with the emergence of first wave feminism the rise of feminist agenda that comes out of woman’s subordination at the hand of her husband, and misogynistic government policy and paradigm. It is this same sentiment that triggered the need for another wave of feminism, that is to say, the second wave. (Brownmiller, 36-38.)

“First wave” of feminism in 1920 advocated women’s suffrage, whereas the “Second wave” targets the societal issues that women in the 21st century are facing. Betty Friedan wrote The Feminists Mystique after World War II exposing female repression and later founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) which ignited the second wave of the feminist movement. Consequently, it became noticeable that women were in multiple wars, as a result branches of feminists were formed (i.e. Liberalist, Marxist, and Socialist). Misogyny’s evolution has its own significant role in the feminist movement, stirring conversations today that affect feminist ideologies. However, in order to fully comprehend what affects second wave feminism along with the tactics utilized by feminists, one must first become acquainted with the many forms.

American Women before the 1960’s were subjected to a life where they would be expected to get married early, have children as soon as possible, and then become a homemaker for the rest of their lives. Feminist women in America faced an underlying conflict to find their purpose and true meaning in life. “Is this it?” was a question frequently sought out by women reaching deeper into their minds and souls to find what was missing from their life (Rampton). The ideal woman was defined as a women who puts all of her time into making sure her house was clean, her husband felt loved, and her children were taken care of but this traditional belief triggered these women to not only lose their identity within their families but society as well. The turbulent emotions felt by feminist women based on this oppression created the internal conflict that caused for social steps to be taken in hopes of bringing purpose and meaning back into their lives. While the first wave of feminists demanded their right to vote, these second-wave feminists took a stand for equality, not just in law, but in daily life. As the second wave of feminism grew due to the maltreatment of women, the influence of the newly published Ms. Magazine aided the feminist movement, treading great change for women’s rights. By being able to add onto what the 1st wave accomplished-granting women the right to vote-women developed the level of empowerment needed to demand more.

On July 13, 1848, New York’s Elizabeth Stanton and her friends sat down and discussed the oppressive inequalities women endure. Up to this time, women lacked “modern” rights, such as the right “to bodily integrity and autonomy,” to vote, to pursue higher education, and to “limitless” job options. This conversation created a global ripple effect sending the world into its ‘first wave’ of feminism. Generally, the ‘first wave’ is said to have begun in the mid 1800’s and come to a close in the early 1900’s.

First and second wave feminists succeeded in legal and social rights. In addition, they achieved the right to vote, higher education, and the right to their own body. Although, third wave feminists obtained these rights, they differentiated from focusing on laws and political processes like first and second wave feminists did. Instead, third wave feminists strived for individualism and diversity. Unlike labeling each other as feminists, the third wave departed from this idea and sought diversity. Third wave became more open for women of all colors, religions, sexual preferences, and ethnicities.

Feminism by definition means the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social and economic equality to men. But many a time’s people restrict the boundary of these forgetting the very important element of diversity of women living in different places and in varied situations.

The idea of women being equal to men has been debated for a very long time. Even when civilizations were just starting, most women were treated very differently from men. When women started fighting against this oppression they were called feminists. Feminism can be separated into three waves. The first wave of feminism was from the mid 1800s to the early 1900s. The second wave was from the 1960s to the 1980s. The third wave of feminism started in the 1990s, but its end is unclear. Some people believe it has ended and the fourth wave of feminism has started, but others believe it continues today. The different waves have been very different in some aspects, but very similar in others. The main differences between the first and third wave of feminism are what they fought for, how they protested, and society’s reaction to their cause.