Summary: The Second Wave Feminism Movement

The first-wave of feminism focused more on the rights of women in the eyes of the law, while the second-wave primarily looked towards women in the workplace and the home. Friedan’s book claims that women “have won the battle for suffrage but little else.” Second wave feminism changed America by passing laws that gave women equal rights within the workforce, such as the law proposed by Virginia Representative Howard Smith to put a prohibition on gender discrimination within the Civil Rights Act. (The 1960s-70s American Feminist Movement: Breaking Down Barriers for Women). In this way second-wave feminism helped to further the revolutionizing actions which originated within the first

In 1963 a book was written named ‘The Feminist Mystique’ this book was relatable to unsatisfied housewives as it challenged the roles that was seen as traditional for women and made them think. Soon more women started to join groups like Women Strike for Peace and the National Organization for Women. By the end of the 1960s women's roles had changed radically as society had started to support non-traditional jobs for

Terms are often redefined and altered in society. Whether the outcome is positive or negative, society can also alter terms in order to create stereotypes. There are thousands of stereotypes related to women and them working. Some common stereotypes against women are: “women are supposed to make less money than men”, “the best women are stay-at-home moms”, “women are supposed to cook and do housework”, and “women are responsible for raising children.” Almost every woman has heard one of those stereotypes at least once throughout their lifetime. (Brewer) The second-wave women’s movement was an event in the 1960s that helped to shape the workforce for women. The second-wave “focused on dismantling workplace inequality, such as denial of access

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

The Second Wave Feminism lasted from early 1960’s to late 1980’s. In addition, a lot of issues took place after the nineteenth Amendment. The women’s activism seemed to lose its devotion in between 1920 to 1960 because of the Word War- II. During this period, women were employed as workers for making war equipments and warplanes and also as nurses. They were influenced by a white woman named Rosie, for the idea she created about women taking up masculine jobs and performing strenuous labor. Soon after the war ended they were terminated from their jobs and continued their domestic lives. Then the onset of CIvil Rights movement in between 1955 to 1960 where both black men and women were discriminated by the Whites had a large impact on the feminist movement. This movement in a way or another led to the beginning of fight by the activists in the Second Wave. Equality in work, access to abortion and sexual or domestic violence were the targeted issues of this wave. One of the most remarkable magazines ,” The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan brought a significant change in the women’s activism which majorly focused on the then roles of women in the houses . It stood as a question about what they are up to. Women started joining the workforce where they were not paid equally as men as there were assumed to take care of children, husband and house. In October 1963, President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act. However, the women activists were not satisfied with the secret

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.”

The women’s movement began in 1848 at a meeting where both men and women signed a Declaration of Sentiments, specifically ordering equality within workplaces and education, aiding this new movement. In the 1960s also known as the second wave of the women’s movement, the book “The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan was written. The book encouraged women to take part of this new-found motion, advancing with three important issues. The first being, JFK’s Commission on the Status of Women, followed by the National Organization for Women (NOW), and “The Pill”. The Commission on the Status of Women, created in 1961, wanted to further the equality of women in six areas. The National Organization for Women (NOW) was created in 1966 and focused on

Throughout the first-wave feminist movement, it was a goal of feminists to have laws that sought to subordinate women to men overturned. The marital exemption to rape is just one example of a law at the time that feminists viewed to subject women to the sexual desires of men. During the Victorian Era, when first-wave feminism emerged, conversations about sex in general were taboo, and the discussion of sex by a woman in a public space was especially taboo. However, this did not stop first wave feminist activists from campaigning for these rights. The campaigns against marital rape focused on a woman’s right to control sex with their husband, and they argued for self ownership over their own bodies (Hasday, 2000, p. 1417). Prominent feminists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton made arguments that marriage did not guarantee that a husband could have sex with his wife under all circumstances. At a temperance convention, she warned of the consequences of having sex with a husband who is an alcoholic, advising to “live with him as a friend...but for woman’s sake, be not his wife” (Hasday, 2000, p. 1418). There were qualities in a man that the women did not want to procreate with, and to ensure the safety of their children, they wanted protection against having sex with certain types of men. One example of this is seen in the disdain of the alcoholic husband – to live with him, be his friend, but never to have sex or reproduce with him. Stanton was firm in the belief that “woman’s

Discrimination in the work place was the trigger problem to the second wave of the Women’s movement. In 1963, Betty Friedan published her book, “A Feminine Mystique”. Friedan’s novel allowed politicians to get a grip for women’s frustrations, those being unequal pay and discrimination in the workplace. An example of this discrimination was that in 1960, a women on made 59 cents compared to the one dollar a man made for doing the same job. Subsequently, in 1963 the commission agreed

    Feminists of the first wave in the United States, which was during a period of emerging out of industrialization and socialism, no longer wanted to be referred to as “second-class” citizens

There are several things from the reading that I found interesting. The part of reading titled “The New Feminism Of The ‘Second Wave’” was probably one of the more interesting parts. The fact that for some women the discrimination ban (in relation to sex) did more damage than good was a real shock to me. The fact that women were fired, and victimized after that movement was something that I didn’t imagine. Obviously this wasn’t the case for all women, and how some greatly benefitted from this movement.

Feminism is defined by Bell Hooks as a movement and ideology intended to end sexist oppression. The recession and intensification is classified as occurring in waves, and this characterization parallels the wave feminist movements tend to crash over society. For the scope of this paper, the focus will be centered on American feminism and the conditions associated with and imposed upon the participants. Although the first wave of feminism was considered complete with the granting of women’s suffrage, feminism has evolved with the times to encapsulate the issues facing the women of the time. While the fundamental premise of each feminist wave is the desire to overcome sexist oppression and gender-based inequalities, intergenerational conflicts exist between the “new” and “old” feminists. Feminism is plagued by opposing values as opponents believe it is too extreme, yet advocates believe it is not extreme enough. The internal and external strife leads to an aversion among the younger generation when assuming the identity. These conflicts are counterproductive to the renunciation of misogyny as they divide the movement meant to unify women. Deborah Siegel’s Sisterhood, Interrupted: From Radical Women to Grrls Gone Wild examines the chasms present in the intergenerational debate of feminism as they defined the feminist movement.

“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.

Prior to Loobeek’s paper, I did not know that there were three different forms or ‘waves’ of feminism, I thought it was one category. Now that I understand the three waves, I can more easily delineate between them. I remember learning in history class about Susan B. Anthony, a women’s rights advocate; her actions would be considered first-wave feminism. I remember talking about women’s right to get an abortion; which would be considered part of second-wave feminism. I also remember topics on the fight for lesbians to become welcome in society; which would be considered an important part of third-wave feminism. I think that it is in a way horrifying that Katniss is the head of her household and that she shows dominance over her mother. The reason

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.