Second-wave feminism was a movement of the 1960s to 1980s that began in the United States and spread to Europe and other parts of the world. While first-wave feminism had focused on legal rights such as the vote, the second wave addressed wider questions of equality, including work and pay, reproductive rights, sexuality, domestic violence and family life. Betty Friedan's book The Feminine Mystique of 1963 helped to start it, and the National Organization for Women was founded in 1966. Writers and activists such as Gloria Steinem, Simone de Beauvoir and Kate Millett shaped its ideas. It brought legal changes, such as equal pay laws, but was also criticised for overlooking women of colour and working-class women.
Before and after
- c. 1960sRise of op art
- c. 1960sGlobal Positioning System
- 1960Construction of Dubai International Airport
- c. 1960sSluggish schizophrenia
- from c. 1960s to 1980sSecond-wave feminism
- c. 1960sRise of conceptual art
- 1960La Tchadienne
- 1960Publication of L'Aube Nouvelle
- 1960Construction of Aswan Dam
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 3 April 1948 to 1 December 1951Marshall Plan
- from 14 October 1962 to 28 October 1962Cuban Missile Crisis
- from 6 October 1973 to 26 October 1973Yom Kippur War
- from 2 April 1982 to 14 June 1982Falklands War
- 3 November 20202020 United States presidential election
- 5 November 20242024 United States presidential election
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.