Second-wave feminism

Definition

Second-wave feminism refers to the period of feminist activism that began in the early 1960s and continued into the late 1980s, focusing on issues beyond legal inequalities, such as sexuality, family, workplace rights, and reproductive rights. This wave expanded the feminist agenda to include a broader range of social, cultural, and political issues, influencing literature and art in significant ways.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Second-wave feminism arose in response to the limitations of first-wave feminism, which primarily focused on suffrage and legal rights.
2. Key texts from this era include 'The Feminine Mystique' by Betty Friedan, which critiqued the societal expectation for women to find fulfillment solely through homemaking.
3. The movement led to significant legal changes, such as the passage of Title IX in 1972, which prohibited gender discrimination in education.
4. Second-wave feminists fought for workplace equality, including equal pay and anti-discrimination policies that benefited women in various professions.
5. This wave also saw the rise of consciousness-raising groups, where women shared personal experiences to highlight the systemic nature of sexism and foster collective action.

Review Questions

• How did second-wave feminism expand the feminist agenda compared to first-wave feminism?
  • Second-wave feminism broadened the feminist agenda by addressing not only legal inequalities but also issues related to sexuality, family dynamics, workplace rights, and reproductive freedoms. While first-wave feminism mainly focused on women's suffrage and securing legal rights, second-wave activists sought to challenge societal norms around gender roles and advocate for women's rights in a wider array of social contexts. This expansion led to a more holistic understanding of women's oppression and encouraged activism across various spheres.
• Discuss the significance of key texts produced during second-wave feminism and their impact on women's literature and culture.
  • Key texts from second-wave feminism, like Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique,' were pivotal in shaping women's literature and culture. These works exposed the limitations placed on women by societal expectations and sparked widespread discussions about gender roles. They challenged readers to rethink traditional notions of femininity and encouraged women to pursue their own identities outside domestic confines. This literary activism not only influenced individual lives but also laid the groundwork for future feminist thought and movements.
• Evaluate the legacy of second-wave feminism in relation to contemporary feminist movements and issues.
  • The legacy of second-wave feminism is evident in today's feminist movements as it established foundational frameworks for addressing systemic inequalities. Contemporary feminists continue to build upon themes like reproductive rights, workplace equality, and intersectionality, recognizing that gender issues cannot be understood in isolation from other forms of discrimination. By critiquing both societal norms and institutional structures, second-wave feminists opened up pathways for ongoing advocacy that addresses a diverse range of women's experiences in the modern world.

Related terms

Gender Roles: Socially constructed roles that dictate how individuals should behave based on their sex, often challenged by feminist movements.

Intersectionality: A framework that examines how various social identities (such as race, gender, and class) intersect to create unique experiences of oppression and privilege.

Reproductive Rights: Legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health, a central focus of second-wave feminism.