Second-wave feminism

Quick Facts: Who was Second-wave feminism?

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Second-wave feminism

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A period of feminist activity (1960s–1980s) advocating for substantive equality.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Second-wave feminism was a period of feminist activity that began in the early 1960s and lasted roughly two decades, ending with the feminist sex wars in the early 1980s and being replaced by third-wave feminism in the early 1990s. It occurred throughout the Western world and aimed to increase women's equality by building on the feminist gains of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Second-wave feminism built on first-wave feminism and broadened the scope of debate to include a wider range of issues: sexuality, family, domesticity, the workplace, reproductive rights, de facto inequalities, and official legal inequalities. First-wave feminism typically advocated for formal equality and second-wave feminism advocated for substantive equality. It was a movement focused on critiquing patriarchal or male-dominated institutions and cultural practices throughout society.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Second-wave feminism also brought attention to issues of domestic violence and marital rape, created rape crisis centers and women's shelters, and brought about changes in custody law and divorce law. Feminist-owned bookstores, credit unions, and restaurants were among the key meeting spaces and economic engines of the movement. Because white feminists' voices have dominated the narrative from the early days of the movement, typical narratives of second-wave feminism focus on the sexism encountered by white middle- and upper-class women, with the absence of black and other racialized women and the experience of working-class women, although black women wrote and founded feminist publications and political activist groups throughout the movement, especially in the 1970s. At the same time, some narratives present a perspective that focuses on events in the United States to the exclusion of the experiences of other countries. Writers like Audre Lorde argued that this homogenized vision of "sisterhood" could not lead to real change because it ignored factors of one's identity such as race, sexuality, age, and class.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The term "intersectionality" was coined in 1989 by Kimberlé Crenshaw at the end of the second wave. Many scholars believe that the beginning of third wave feminism was due to the problems of the second wave, rather than just another movement. The second wave of feminism in the United States came as a delayed reaction against the renewed domesticity of women after World War II: the late 1940s post-war boom, which was an era characterized by an unprecedented economic growth, a baby boom, a move to family-oriented suburbs and the ideal of companionate marriages. During this time, women did not tend to seek employment due to their engagement with domestic and household duties, which was seen as their primary duty but often left them isolated within the home and estranged from politics, economics, and law making. This life was clearly illustrated by the media of the time; for example television shows such as Father Knows Best and Leave It to Beaver idealized domesticity.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1989: 1989 Milestone — The term "intersectionality" was coined in 1989 by Kimberlé Crenshaw at the end of the second wave.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Second-wave feminism

True or False: “Second-wave feminism exclusively focused on achieving formal legal equality for women.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The movement advocated for substantive equality, moving beyond just formal rights to critique patriarchal institutions and cultural practices.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. J. Ayer — Historical peer (Died in 1989) (1989): Influential English philosopher known for logical positivism and emotivism.
• Abbie Hoffman — Historical peer (Died in 1989) (1989): Iconic American activist, co-founder of the Yippies, and counterculture figure.
• Seediq people — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Taiwanese Indigenous group known for fierce resistance against Japanese colonization.
• Seewoosagur Ramgoolam — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Founding father of modern Mauritius; key political leader and statesman.
• Sei Shōnagon — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Renowned Heian court lady and author of The Pillow Book.
• Sei Shonagon — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Influential Heian court lady and author of the witty masterpiece, The Pillow Book.

Frequently Asked Questions about Second-wave feminism