Second-wave feminism

Definition

Second-wave feminism refers to a period of feminist activism that began in the early 1960s and continued into the 1980s, focusing on a wider range of issues than the first wave, including workplace rights, reproductive rights, and sexuality. This movement expanded the fight for women's rights beyond suffrage and aimed to address social inequalities, drawing attention to how literature and culture perpetuated gender roles and stereotypes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Second-wave feminism expanded the focus from legal rights to cultural issues, emphasizing how societal norms shape women's lives.
2. Key events such as the publication of 'The Feminine Mystique' by Betty Friedan in 1963 spurred activism by highlighting women's dissatisfaction with domestic life.
3. This wave of feminism included significant debates about women's roles in the workplace, leading to campaigns for equal pay and anti-discrimination laws.
4. Second-wave feminists challenged traditional notions of femininity and explored issues related to sexuality, reproductive rights, and body autonomy.
5. Feminist literary criticism emerged during this period, analyzing texts through a gendered lens to reveal how literature reflects and reinforces patriarchal values.

Review Questions

• How did second-wave feminism differ from first-wave feminism in its goals and focus areas?
  • Second-wave feminism significantly expanded the goals of the feminist movement beyond the legal focus of first-wave feminism, which primarily centered on suffrage. While first-wave feminists fought for basic legal rights like voting, second-wave feminists sought to address broader issues such as workplace equality, reproductive rights, and cultural representation. This movement emphasized social inequalities and the importance of challenging gender roles embedded in society.
• Discuss how Virginia Woolf's writings contributed to the discourse of second-wave feminism and its emphasis on women's intellectual independence.
  • Virginia Woolf's writings played a crucial role in shaping second-wave feminist thought by advocating for women's intellectual independence and creativity. In 'A Room of One's Own,' she argues that women need both financial resources and personal space to create literature. Woolf’s emphasis on the barriers women face in achieving artistic expression highlights the need for systemic changes that second-wave feminists sought, thereby enriching feminist literary criticism.
• Evaluate the impact of Simone de Beauvoir's 'The Second Sex' on second-wave feminism and its critique of women's societal roles.
  • Simone de Beauvoir's 'The Second Sex' had a profound impact on second-wave feminism by providing a philosophical framework that critiques the historical subjugation of women. By arguing that women have been constructed as 'the Other,' de Beauvoir highlighted the existential struggles women face due to societal expectations. This work encouraged feminists to question traditional gender roles and advocate for women's autonomy and agency, influencing both feminist theory and literature during this transformative period.

Related terms

Virginia Woolf:

A prominent writer and feminist thinker whose works, especially 'A Room of One's Own,' argued for women's intellectual freedom and the need for financial independence.

Simone de Beauvoir:

'The Second Sex' is a foundational text in feminist philosophy that critiques the historical treatment of women as 'the Other' and emphasizes the importance of existential freedom.

Hélène Cixous:

A French feminist writer known for her concept of 'écriture féminine,' which advocates for women's unique perspectives in literature and challenges traditional male-dominated narratives.