Changes

[[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. 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.

== Lead up In the 1940s, 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 Second Wave ==The women's major trigger for the second wave feminist movement before that occurred after the war. During the 1920s was characterized by war years, the suffrage movement labor unions that led had grown in the 1930s became even stronger as women became increasingly employed, particularly in manufacturing jobs required to women gaining support the right to votewar effort. From During the 1890s 1940s, new work benefits became available to women, including maternity leave, daycare, and early part of the 20th centurycounseling. These benefits developed more substantially in Europe, as many countries there were devastated by war, where much of the women's movement focused on general societal inequalities male population was reduced.<ref> Laughlin, Kathleen A., andJacqueline 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, such as poor working and housing conditionsFeminism, while also focusing on social ills such as alcoholism and prostitution1945-1985]</i>. New York: Routledge, 2011, 4. Black women </ref> Nevertheless, in the Southwest of the United States, during women's participation in the 1930slabor force in World War II created a feeling among many women, for instanceafter the war ended, joined labor unions such that they also deserved the same types of rights as men in jobs they filled. This was highlighted by the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) to protest poor wages fact that many men who came back and work environments they had to endureretook their old jobs from women who were doing them during the war also were given higher salaries, further highlighting this inequality. <ref>RuízMilkman, Ruth, Vicki. <i>Cannery Women, Cannery Lives[https: Mexican Women//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, UnionizationLabor, and the California Food Processing IndustryInequality, 1930-1950Working Class in American History]</i>. AlbuquerqueUrbana, Chicago: University of New Mexico Illinois Press, 19872016. Pg. 83.</ref> Apart from this general social activism and gaining the right to vote, gender-specific topics, including equality in work and pay, were not a 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>

In ==== Ideology that Shaped the 1950sMovement ==== [[File:The_Second_Sex.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|<i>The Second Sex</i> by Simone de Beauvoir]] After World War II, the economy some writers began to expand question how women in society were perceived and the height of role they played, particularly as the red scare or anti-communist sentiment began war had shown women made valuable contributions and in many cases performed tasks equally to diminish feminist organizationme. <ref> LaughlinIn 1949, Kathleen A., and Jacqueline L. Castledine. Simone de Beauvoir published <i>Breaking the Wave[https: Women, Their Organizations, and Feminism, 1945-1985</i>/www. New York: Routledge, 2011, 90amazon. com/gp/product/0307265560/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0307265560&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=f9a9c302f5b6ddd567059a2383502e0d The Second Sex]</refi> However, by a groundbreaking book that questioned how society viewed women and the early late 1950s and 1960srole in which they played. In her work, as more prolonged prosperity took holdBeauvoir writes, there was greater interest to explore new ideas and movements emerged“One is not born, including the civil rights movementbut rather becomes, that began to question establish social constructs such as segregation and inequality in the work placea woman. By ” This quote represent how society fosters the early 1960sidea of what a woman should do and act, the social atmosphere began to be conducive for a major feminist movementwhere gender roles are learned and forced upon women.<ref>Gilmore, StephanieVasilopoulou, edAngeliki."Woman by Choice:’ A Comment on Simone De Beauvoir’s Famous Phrase ‘One Is Not Born a Woman, but Becomes One'" <i>Feminist Coalitions: Historical Perspectives on Second-Wave Feminism in the United States, Women Journal of Research in American History.Gender Studies</i> Urbana: University of Illinois Press4, no. 2 (2014), 2008489-490.</ref>Where World War II showed that women could break out of their gender roles as was required; the book questioned then why should women's roles that saw them as secondary to men in the workplace and home be perpetuated when this was clearly not the case during the war.

== Ideology that Shaped the Movement == After World War IIa period of time, some writers began to question how women the movement gained greater traction through more authors in society were perceived and the role they played1960s. Betty Friedan was perhaps one of the most influential writers at this time. After conducting a survey of her classmates, particularly as the war had shown women made valuable contributions Friedan noticed that many of her classmates were unhappy in their marriages where their lives revolved around childcare and in many cases performed tasks equally housework. This prompted her to me. In 1949, Simone de Beauvoir published write <i>The Second SexFeminine Mystique</i>in 1963 where she questioned white, middle class ideals of family life and motherhood, a groundbreaking book that questioned how society viewed particularly as domestic life had stifled women and the role in which they playedtheir aspirations. In her workbook, Beauvoir writes, “One is not born, but rather becomesFriedan includes interviews with women who were unhappy in their home life, debunking the ideals of the 1950s that often showed a womanhappy family with men at work and women focused on housework.” This quote represent how society fosters The book fundamentally questioned if the 1950s ideals were in the idea best interest of what a woman should do and act, where gender roles are learned and forced upon women. <ref> VasilopoulouRyan, AngelikiBarbara. "Woman by Choice:’ A Comment on Simone De Beauvoir’s Famous Phrase ‘One Is Not Born a Woman, but Becomes One'" <i>Journal [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415905990/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415905990&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=34aceed5c84e53b28e7bf3a238700625 Feminism and the Women's Movement: Dynamics of Research Change in Gender StudiesSocial Movement Ideology, and Activism]</i> 4. New York: Routledge, no. 2 (2014)1992, 489-49042. </ref> Where World War II showed that women could break out of their gender roles as was required; the book questioned then why should women's roles that saw them as secondary to men in the workplace and home be perpetuated when this was clearly not the case during the war.

After a period of time, the movement gained greater traction through more authors The book and politics in the 1960sled to some initial victories for the emerging second wave women's movement. Betty This includes the establishment of the National Organization for Women, where Friedan joined the organization, and the first great legislative victory, which was perhaps one the passage of the most influential writers at this timeEqual Pay Act of 1963. After conducting a survey of her classmates, Friedan noticed This made it law for women to have an equal right to equal pay for the same jobs that many of her classmates were unhappy in their marriages where their lives revolved around childcare and houseworkmen did. This prompted her It made it now possible for women to now not be prevented from joining the labor force due to write depressed wages.<ref>Herman, Alexis M, <i>The Feminine Mystique[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> in 1963 where she questioned white, middle class ideals (Place of family life and motherhoodpublication not identified: Diane Pub Co, particularly as domestic life had stifled women and their aspirations1998. In her book</ref> Other changes, Friedan includes interviews with women who were unhappy in their home life, debunking including the ideals introduction of the 1950s that often showed a happy family with men at work contraceptive pill and women focused on houseworkintroduction of abortion in Europe began to have political ramifications. The book fundamentally questioned if pill, on the 1950s ideals were one hand, allowed women to delay childbirth and establish careers in the best interest of many cases. Abortion also gave womengreater choices about rearing children.<ref> RyanNorgren, BarbaraChristiana A. E. , <i>Feminism and the Women's Movement[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691070059/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0691070059&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=bf43bcb707350c972852ae8f8c2c3e1a Abortion before Birth Control: Dynamics The Politics of Change Reproduction in Social Movement Ideology, and ActivismPostwar Japan].</i>Studies of the East Asian Institute. Princeton, N. New YorkJ: Routledge, 1992Princeton University Press, 422001. </ref>

The book and politics in the 1960s led to some initial victories for the emerging second wave women's movement. This includes the establishment of the National Organization for Women, where Friedan joined the organization, and the first great legislative victory, which was the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963. This made it law for women to have an equal right to equal pay for the same jobs that men did. It made it now possible for women to now not be prevented from joining the labor force due to depressed wages.<ref>Herman, Alexis M, <i>Equal Pay: A 35-Year Perspective.</i> (Place of publication not identified: Diane Pub Co, 1998.</ref> Other changes, including the introduction of the contraceptive pill and introduction of abortion in Europe began to have political ramifications. The pill, on the one hand, allowed women to delay childbirth and establish careers in many cases. Abortion also gave women greater choices about rearing children.<ref>Norgren, Christiana A. E., <i>Abortion before Birth Control: The Politics of Reproduction in Postwar Japan.</i> Studies of the East Asian Institute. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 2001.</ref> In 1969, Katy Millett wrote <i>Sexual Politics</i> and wrote about the patriarchal structure of society that controls sex, sexual expression, and ultimately politics and the narrative of political discourse. Sex and gender oppression are common because of political discourse found in society. Millets argued that before any other type of oppression existed, elite men first oppressed people based on sex and gender, extending later to race and class. <ref>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=62b570a5374aa4b505b21eaac8d210d2 In Their Time: A History of Feminism in Western Society]</i>. New York: Routledge, 2001, 361.</ref>

==== One Movement or Two? ====Increasingly in the 1960s and 1970s, second wave feminism diverged into two separate ideological movements: Equal rights feminism and radical feminism. Within equal-rights feminism, the objective sought equality with men in political and social spheres, where legislation and laws such as legalization of abortion and efforts to make women more established on the workforce equal to men were the primary goals. <ref> 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, 347.</ref> Radical feminism, on the other hand, wanted much more radical change to society that fundamentally saw it as patriarchal and needed to be altered if women were to escape it oppression.<ref>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, 357. </ref> There were age and racial differences within the wider feminist movements at the time. The 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 of all ages who were active in the Civil Rights movement as well. <ref> LeGates, Marlene. In Their Time: A History of Feminism in Western Society. New York: Routledge, 2001, 352.</ref> ==== Minorities ==== Women of color found themselves underrepresented in both the racial and gender movements that were simultaneously fighting for greater equality. While Black, Latina/Chicana, Asian, and Native 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 stark racial contrasts. Some non-white feminists criticized the wider feminist movement for failing to be equal in the movement's representation and incorporating racial and other issues.<ref>West, Lois A., ed., <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.</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.

== Minorities ==Suggested Readings==== Women * 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 color were finding themselves underrepresented in both the racial African-American Culture and gender movements that were simultaneously fighting for greater equalityHistory]</i>. While Black2nd ed. Vol. 5. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2006* Ruíz, LatinaVicki. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/Chicana0826309887/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0826309887&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=7979bf4a8ff003689e7f9d58a2862cd2 Cannery Women, AsianCannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and Native American women were active in feminist agendas at the timeCalifornia Food Processing Industry, there were tensions within the broader feminists movements because a large percentage 1930-1950]</i>. (Albuquerque: University of the leaders were white and the agenda had some stark racial contrastsNew Mexico Press, 1987)* Gilmore, Stephanie, ed., <i>[https://www.amazon. Some noncom/gp/product/0252075390/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0252075390&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-white feminists criticized 20&linkId=53a802ecde3a40d4fda23475f8d008a1 Feminist Coalitions: Historical Perspectives on Second-Wave Feminism in the wider feminist movement for failing to be equal United States, Women in the movement's representation and incorporating racial and other issuesAmerican History].<ref/i>West, Lois A., ed.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

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 <div class oppression. <ref>Aguilar, Marian. ="portal"Third World Women's Alliance.style=" <i>Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History</i>. Edited by Colin A. Palmer. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. Detroitwidth: Macmillan Reference USA, 2006, 2191-2192. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 June 2016.</ref85%;"> 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 ==Related DailyHistory.org Articles==== The ‘’second wave’’ was an extremely important time for women who no longer wanted to subscribe to *[[What is the traditional public and private spheres significance of societythe 1968 East L. They no longer accepted the housewife role as mandatory, they fought for the right to do what they wanted with their bodies, they fought to end sexual and gender oppression, and some began to fight against racism within the feminist movement itselfA. Walkouts?]]*[[Why Did Helen Keller Become a Socialist?]]*[[The contribution to feminist theory and ideology is enormous, and the concept of intersectionality is now one of the most important key terms when learning about feminism todayRabbi's Atheist Daughter: Interview with Bonnie S. Ultimately, the ‘’ second wave’’ gave women Anderson]]*[[Why was France defeated in 1940?]]*[[Why did Germany lose the opportunity to start conversations about how to fight against inequality and begin to think about gender, identity, sexuality, race, and class as all equally important factors. The ‘’third wave’’ is now informed by and constantly rethinking and dismantling some Battle of the ‘’second wave rhetoric, but is undeniably grateful to the fight the ‘’second wave’’ continued.Stalingrad?]]</div>

====References====