15,697
edits
Changes
no edit summary
__NOTOC__
[[File:Leffler_-_WomensLib1970_WashingtonDC.jpg|left|400px|thumbnail|Women's Liberation March in Washington, D.C., in 1970 by Warren K. Leffler]]Today, feminism is an ideology/theory that most people fail to fully understand. Feminism has been described as having three separate waves. [[What was the First Wave Feminist Movement?|The first wave ]] of feminism started in the mid-19th Century and culminated with the women's suffrage movement. Second wave feminism started in the late 1950s moved into the 1980s. Historians and feminist/gender scholars describe today’s feminist theory, ideology and social/political movement as the ''third wave'' of feminism. Second wave feminism started in the late 1950s moved into the 1980s. This The ‘’second wave’’ of feminism started after the women were forced out of the workplace after end of World War Two and essentially ended with the failure to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Second-wave feminism splintered after criticism grew that the movement had focused on white women to the the exclusion of everyone else. ==== Lead up to the Second Wave====The women's movement before the 1920s was characterized by the suffrage movement that led to women gaining the right to vote. From the 1890s and early part of the 20th century, much of the women's movement focused on general societal inequalities and, such as poor working and housing conditions, while also focusing on social ills such as alcoholism and prostitution. Black women in the Southwest of the United States, during the 1930s, for instance, joined labor unions such as the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) to protest poor wages and work environments they had to endure. <ref>Ruíz, Vicki. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0826309887/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0826309887&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=7979bf4a8ff003689e7f9d58a2862cd2 Cannery Women, Cannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and the California Food Processing Industry, 1930-1950]</i>. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1987.</ref> Apart from this general social activism and gaining the right to vote, gender-specific topics, including equality in work and pay, were not major focus areas.
In the 1940s1950s, women gained increasing employment as men left overseas to fight in World War II. In fact, it was World War II that can be argued as the major trigger for the second wave feminist movement that occurred after the war. During the war years, the labor unions that had grown in the 1930s became even stronger as women became increasingly employed, particularly in manufacturing jobs required economy began to support expand and the war effort. During height of the 1940s, new work benefits became available red scare or anti-communist sentiment began to women, including maternity leave, daycare, and counseling. These benefits developed more substantially in Europe, as many countries there were devastated by war, where much of the male population was reduceddiminish feminist organization.<ref> Laughlin, Kathleen A., and Jacqueline L. Castledine. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415874009/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415874009&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6b8857f4b500c32da5bf87aac9369b9c Breaking the Wave: Women, Their Organizations, and Feminism, 1945-1985]</i>. New York: Routledge, 2011, 490. </ref> NeverthelessHowever, in by the United Statesearly late 1950s and 1960s, as more prolonged prosperity took hold, women's participation in the labor force in World War II created a feeling among many womenthere was greater interest to explore new ideas and movements emerged, after including the war endedcivil rights movement, that they also deserved the same types of rights began to question establish social constructs such as men segregation and inequality in jobs they filledthe work place. This was highlighted by By the fact that many men who came back and retook their old jobs from women who were doing them during early 1960s, the war also were given higher salaries, further highlighting this inequalitysocial atmosphere began to be conducive for a major feminist movement.<ref>MilkmanGilmore, RuthStephanie, ed., <i>On Gender[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0252075390/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0252075390&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=53a802ecde3a40d4fda23475f8d008a1 Feminist Coalitions: Historical Perspectives on Second-Wave Feminism in the United States, Labor, and Inequality, Working Class Women in American History].</i>. Urbana, Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2016. Pg. 832008.</ref>
== Minorities == One Movement or Two? ==== Women of color, especially during Increasingly in the Civil Rights movement1960s and 1970s, were finding themselves underrepresented in both racial second wave feminism diverged into two separate ideological movements: Equal rights feminism and gender movements that were simultaneously fighting for their equalityradical feminism. BlackWithin equal-rights feminism, Latina/Chicana, Asianthe objective sought equality with men in political and social spheres, where legislation and laws such as legalization of abortion and Native American efforts to make women were all active in feminist agendas but wary of more established on the whiteness that seemed workforce equal to dominate the organizations that men were dedicated to the destruction of patriarchal structuresprimary goals. All over the United States<ref> LeGates, minority women began the fight of racial and gender oppression by creating their own organizationsMarlene. <i>[https://www.amazon. Some had already existed thanks to the serge com/gp/product/0415930987/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415930987&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=e53f80fa20839cdc10f02dea9ceef4a7 In Their Time: A History of participation Feminism in the workforce during the 1940s, like the National Council of Negro WomenWestern Society]</i>. Other organizations developed during the 1960s and 1970s included the Third World Women’s Alliance. The Third Women's World Alliance primary goal was to expose the relation between raceNew York: Routledge, sex2001, sexuality347.</ref> Radical feminism, genderon the other hand, wanted much more radical change to society that fundamentally saw it as patriarchal and class oppressions. This approach is now referred needed to be altered if women were to as intersectionalityescape it oppression.<ref>AguilarLeGates, MarianMarlene. "Third World Women's Alliance." <i>Encyclopedia of African[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415930987/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415930987&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-American Culture and 20&linkId=e53f80fa20839cdc10f02dea9ceef4a7 In Their Time: A Historyof Feminism in Western Society],</i>. Edited by Colin A. Palmer. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. DetroitNew York: Macmillan Reference USARoutledge, 20062001, 2191-2192. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 June 2016357.</ref> There were age and racial differences within the wider feminist movements at the time. The views organizations of equal-rights feminists were largely white, older in age, and most came from affluent backgrounds. Radical feminists were made up younger white affluent women, and minority women eventually became the drivers of all ages who were active in the major themes Civil Rights movement as well. <ref> LeGates, Marlene. In Their Time: A History of the ‘’third wave’’ of feminism that exists todayFeminism in Western Society. Bell HooksNew York: Routledge, Angela Davis2001, Gloria Anzaldua, and Cherrie Morriega successfully imposed their view of feminism onto third wave feminism352.</ref>
== Conclusion == Minorities ==== The ‘’second wave’’ was an extremely important time for women who no longer wanted to subscribe to Women of color found themselves underrepresented in both the traditional public racial and private spheres of societygender movements that were simultaneously fighting for greater equality. They no longer accepted the housewife role as mandatoryWhile Black, Latina/Chicana, they fought for the right to do what they wanted with their bodiesAsian, they fought to end sexual and gender oppressionNative American women were active in feminist agendas at the time, there were tensions within the broader feminists movements because a large percentage of the leaders were white and the agenda had some began to fight against racism within stark racial contrasts. Some non-white feminists criticized the wider feminist movement itself. The contribution for failing to feminist theory be equal in the movement's representation and ideology is enormous, incorporating racial and the concept of intersectionality is now one of the most important key terms when learning about feminism todayother issues. Ultimately<ref>West, the ‘’ second wave’’ gave women the opportunity to start conversations about how to fight against inequality and begin to think about genderLois A., identityed., sexuality, race, and class as all equally important factors<i> [https://www.amazon. The ‘’third wave’’ is now informed by and constantly rethinking and dismantling some of the ‘’second wave rhetoriccom/gp/product/0415916186/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415916186&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=bcbac0f9737db4403babf8c44b46d2c7 Feminist Nationalism]</i> (New York: Routledge, but is undeniably grateful to the fight the ‘’second wave’’ continued1997.</ref>
Across the United States, minority women began the fight against racial and gender oppression by creating their own organizations. Some had already existed due to greater women participation in the workforce during the 1940s, such as the National Council of Negro Women. Other organizations developed during the 1960s and 1970s, including the Third World Women’s Alliance. The Third Women's World Alliance worked to expose the relation between race, sex, sexuality, gender, and class oppression. <ref>Aguilar, Marian. "Third World Women's Alliance." <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0231138113/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0231138113&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a77dfd3c3570e2d6b8f931caf2af94bc Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History]</i>. Edited by Colin A. Palmer. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2006, 2191-2192. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 June 2016.</ref> Such views by minority women proved to be influential in the ‘’third wave’’ of feminism that emerged later in the 1970s and into today, as broader racial and social inequality issues are now incorporated by feminist movements. ==== Conclusion ==== The ‘’second wave’’ feminist movement proved to be a major social transition for Western countries and the United States from the 1960s and later. Major social change, such as women's participation in the labor force, and increased prosperity forced a major social awareness movement that questioned the roles of gender in society. Major works of literature began to question perceived traditional gender roles and exposed social problems created by such roles on women. Two movements emerged within the broader second wave feminist movement, which were the more mainstream and radical elements of feminism. While one worked to change society from within, using legislation and social pressure, the other, radical movement questions fundamentally if society's hierarchical and patriarchal nature were the main problem. Both these movements made major contributions, however, through their influence on society in general, where today many things we take for granted, such as women in the workforce, only became increasingly acceptable after the 1960s. Today, a woman delaying raising a family is not often questioned by society for such a choice, but this was not the norm in the pre-1960s US and parts of Europe. Later, the merger of racial and other social inequality was seen as part of wider social struggles in society. Ultimately, the second wave feminist movement gave women the opportunity to start conversations about how their social inequality and begin to think about gender, identity, sexuality, race, and class as all equally important factors. The so-called third wave, more greatly focused on gay/lesbian and racial issues, in fact can be argued to be informed by the second wave rhetoric that had emerged late in the 1970s as race and broader social inequality issues emerged. ====Suggested Readings====* Palmer, Colin. editor, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0231138113/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0231138113&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a77dfd3c3570e2d6b8f931caf2af94bc Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History]</i>. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2006* Ruíz, Vicki. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0826309887/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0826309887&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=7979bf4a8ff003689e7f9d58a2862cd2 Cannery Women, Cannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and the California Food Processing Industry, 1930-1950]</i>. (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1987)* Gilmore, Stephanie, ed., <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0252075390/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0252075390&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=53a802ecde3a40d4fda23475f8d008a1 Feminist Coalitions: Historical Perspectives on Second-Wave Feminism in the United States, Women in American History].</i> Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2008* <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415916186/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415916186&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=bcbac0f9737db4403babf8c44b46d2c7 Feminist Nationalism]</i> (New York: Routledge, 1997)* LeGates, Marlene. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415930987/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415930987&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=e53f80fa20839cdc10f02dea9ceef4a7 In Their Time: A History of Feminism in Western Society],</i>. New York: Routledge, 2001* Herman, Alexis M, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0788189824/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0788189824&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c95c84f3c729e211488024345b3d47c5 Equal Pay: A 35-Year Perspective].</i> (Place of publication not identified: Diane Pub Co, 1998* Milkman, Ruth, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0252081773/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0252081773&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=69155be1a38d6dea3b598cf2d3940b8f On Gender, Labor, and Inequality, Working Class in American History]</i>. Urbana, Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2016* Laughlin, Kathleen A., and Jacqueline L. Castledine. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415874009/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415874009&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6b8857f4b500c32da5bf87aac9369b9c Breaking the Wave: Women, Their Organizations, and Feminism, 1945-1985]</i>. New York: Routledge, 2011 <div class="portal" style="width:85%;"> ====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[What is the significance of the 1968 East L.A. Walkouts?]]*[[Why Did Helen Keller Become a Socialist?]]*[[The Rabbi's Atheist Daughter: Interview with Bonnie S. Anderson]]*[[Why was France defeated in 1940?]]*[[Why did Germany lose the Battle of Stalingrad?]]</div> ====References====
<references>
[[Category:Wikis]]
[[Category:United States History]] [[Category:Women's History]][[Category:Feminist History]] [[Category:Civil Rights History]]
{{Contributors}}