The second wave of feminism refers to a period of feminist activity that began in the United States in the early 1960s and lasted until the late 1980s.
This wave was built on the earlier efforts of the first-wave of feminism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which focused primarily on suffrage and property rights for women. The second wave expanded the scope of the movement to include a wider range of issues, such as reproductive rights, sexuality, domestic violence, and workplace discrimination.
During this period, feminist activists, scholars, and writers pushed for legal and social changes to address the many forms of discrimination and inequality women faced. They also worked to raise awareness about these issues through a variety of means, including publications, conferences, and grassroots organizations.
Second-wave feminism was shaped by the Civil Rights Movement, an anti-war and student movement, and the New Left. It also had roots in the labor and socialist movements and was influenced by the feminist writings of Simone de Beauvoir and Betty Friedan, among others.
See more resources
Burkett, E. and Brunell, Laura (2023, January 23). Feminism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/feminism
First-wave feminism. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-wave_feminism#:~:text=First%2Dwave%20feminism%20was%20a,securing%20women’s%20right%20to%20vote.
Me Too Movement. (n.d.). Get to Know Us: Tarana Burke, Founder. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://metoomvmt.org/get-to-know-us/tarana-burke-founder/
Oxford English Dictionary