Feminist Movement (Second & Third Waves) The Feminist Movement’s second wave (1960s–1980s) expanded beyond suffrage to tackle workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, and patriarchal norms. Sparked by Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique, it demanded equal pay, childcare access, and legal abortion—culminating in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Title IX. Consciousness-raising groups empowered women to see personal struggles as political. The third wave (1990s–2000s) critiqued second-wave exclusivity, centering women of color, queer identities, and cultural expression. Figures like bell hooks and Kimberlé Crenshaw introduced intersectionality, while pop culture icons (e.g., Riot Grrrl bands) reclaimed femininity on their own terms. Both waves fought sexual harassment, domestic violence, and media objectification. Though criticized for middle-class bias initially, feminism evolved to embrace global sisterhood—supporting girls’ education in Afghanistan and anti-femicide campaigns in Latin America. Digital activism (#MeToo) continues this legacy. Together, these waves transformed laws, workplaces, and relationships, proving gender liberation benefits all. Feminism remains vital because equality is not a destination but a continuous practice of questioning power.
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