| Second-wave Feminism |
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Information AboutSecond-wave Feminism |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SECOND-WAVE FEMINISM | |
| feminism | |
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| history of the united states 1964–1980 | |
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GENERAL IDEAS If the period associated with First-wave Feminism focused upon absolute rights such as Suffrage (which led to women attaining the right to vote in the early part of the 20th century), the period of the second-wave Feminist Movement was concerned with the issue of economic and other forms of equality (including the ability to have careers in addition to motherhood, or the right to choose not to have children). It also addressed the rights of female minorities. One phenomenon included the recognition of Lesbian women within the movement, due to the simultaneous rise of the Gay Rights movement, and the deliberate activism of lesbian feminist groups, such as the Lavender Menace . The developments led to explicit Lesbian Feminist campaigns and groups, and some feminists went further to argue that heterosexual sexual relationships automatically subordinated women, and that the only true independence could come in lesbian relationships (" Lesbian Separatism "). The second wave is sometimes linked with Radical Feminist theory. DEVELOPMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES RELATED TO THE SECOND WAVE Second-wave feminism addressed female admission to formerly all-male institutions, especially in the realms of business, politics, and Higher Education . Education One debate which developed in response to second-wave feminism revolves around the question of Coeducation . During the early 1970s , all of the Ivy League schools, which had formerly only accepted men, became co-ed. Some Women's Colleges also responded by becoming coeducational, such as the seven sister college, Radcliffe College , which merged with Harvard University . In addition, another seven sister college, Vassar College , as well as the women's colleges Connecticut College and Sarah Lawrence College , also became co-ed during the late 1960s . Additional women's colleges (such as Wells College , which became co-ed in 2005) have more recently adopted co-education. Other schools responded to the tenets of second-wave feminism by promoting the importance of maintaining their single-sex status. Since 1900, the seven sister college, , Wellesley College , Bryn Mawr College , and Smith College remain unaffiliated women's colleges. In addition, historically prominent women's colleges such as Spelman College , Agnes Scott College , Bennett College , and Scripps College have maintained their single-sex status. Journalism '' Ms. Magazine '', founded in 1972 by Gloria Steinem , contains articles centered around issues related to the second wave. Legislation Important works of legislation which developed as a result of the second wave include '' Title IX '' (1972), which enforced the involvement of girls in sports and athletics in school. The '' Equal Rights Amendment '' (ERA), which sought to guarantee Equal Rights under the Law for Americans regardless of Sex , also developed during this time. It has not been ratified to date. Organizations Individuals involved in the development of these and related issues were often a part of NOW or the '' National Organization Of Women ''. The late Betty Friedan was one of the founders. THE RISE OF INTENTIONAL COMMUNITIES One interesting and underdocumented aspect of the second-wave was the rise of women's cooperative living communities. An example of one such intentional community was the Chatanika River Women's Colony . SECOND WAVE IN POPULAR CULTURE Ideals and debates associated with second-wave feminism were reflected in popular culture of the 1970s and 1980s (see references below). Blaxploitation films and characters
Other characters
General films, plays, and television
SEE ALSO REFERENCES
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