Second-Wave Feminism

Definition

Second-wave feminism was a period of feminist activity and thought that began in the early 1960s and lasted through the late 1970s. It focused on issues of sexuality, family, the workplace, reproductive rights, and official legal inequalities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Second-wave feminism sought to address the social and political inequalities of women, building on the achievements of the first-wave feminism of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
2. Key issues of the second wave included the workplace, sexuality, family, and reproductive rights, as well as official legal inequalities.
3. The second wave was influential in passing new legislation, such as the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which helped to address gender discrimination.
4. Second-wave feminists advocated for greater access to education and professional opportunities for women, as well as increased representation in political and corporate leadership.
5. The second wave also gave rise to the concept of intersectionality, recognizing that different forms of discrimination, such as race, class, and gender, intersect and create unique experiences of oppression.

Review Questions

• Explain how second-wave feminism challenged the status quo in the context of 29.4 Challenging the Status Quo.
  • Second-wave feminism challenged the status quo by bringing attention to the systemic barriers and inequalities that women faced in the workplace, in their personal lives, and in society at large. Activists during this period fought for greater legal and political rights, as well as social and cultural changes that would empower women and dismantle patriarchal structures. Through consciousness-raising, legislative action, and grassroots organizing, second-wave feminists sought to transform the existing power dynamics and create a more equitable society for women.
• Describe how the concept of intersectionality, as developed during the second-wave feminist movement, relates to the topic of identity politics in a fractured society (30.1).
  • The concept of intersectionality, which emerged during the second-wave feminist movement, recognized that individuals' experiences of discrimination and oppression are shaped by the intersection of multiple, overlapping social identities, such as gender, race, class, and sexuality. This understanding of the complex, multifaceted nature of identity was crucial to the development of identity politics during this period, as various marginalized groups sought to organize and advocate for their specific needs and experiences within the broader social and political landscape. The intersectional approach challenged the notion of a singular, universal feminist movement and highlighted the importance of addressing the unique challenges faced by women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other intersecting identities within the broader struggle for equality and justice.
• Evaluate the lasting impact of the second-wave feminist movement on subsequent social and political movements, particularly in the context of the fractured and diverse nature of identity politics in the United States (30.1).
  • The second-wave feminist movement had a profound and lasting impact on subsequent social and political movements, particularly in the context of the fractured and diverse nature of identity politics in the United States. By emphasizing the interconnectedness of various forms of oppression and the need for an intersectional approach, second-wave feminists laid the groundwork for the development of more inclusive and nuanced understandings of identity and social justice. This legacy can be seen in the ways that later movements, such as the civil rights movement, the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and the Black Lives Matter movement, have incorporated intersectional frameworks and sought to address the unique challenges faced by individuals with multiple, overlapping marginalized identities. The second wave's focus on consciousness-raising, grassroots organizing, and challenging entrenched power structures also served as a model for subsequent social and political movements, contributing to a more diverse and inclusive landscape of identity politics in the United States.

Related terms

Intersectionality: The interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.

Patriarchy: A social system in which power is primarily held by men, traditionally the father in a family, and where roles are assigned primarily on the basis of biological sex.

Consciousness-Raising: The act of increasing awareness of social and political issues, particularly those related to gender inequality and women's rights.