Second Wave Feminism In Literature

Question 1

What was the typical view of women in the working class?

Answer 1

-be a good wife + mother remained strong for most of 60s

Question 2

How did this change as the decade progressed?

Answer 2

-second wave feminism developed with growth in formal education of women at secondary + higher level 29% 1929 to 39% 1970

Question 3

What book was published spreading feminist ideas?

Answer 3

-Friedan’s book with ideas spreading to UK finding audience among middle class + educated women

Question 4

What did this group of middle class + educated women believe?

Answer 4

-Br viewed women as second class citizens
-demand for legal, social + econ equality

Question 5

What was the main demand?

Answer 5

-the law be changed to address discrimination
-but most didn’t appear until 1970#

Question 6

What is an example of equality legislation not being enforced until many years later?

Answer 6

-Wilson’s Equal Pay Act of 1970 not enacted until 1975 as period of ‘implementation’ was required

Question 7

What else other than legal change did second wave feminism focus on?

Answer 7

-many social injustices beyond that of legislation since they belonged to world of ingrained prejudice among women as well as men

Question 8

What did these social injustices lead to a belief in?

Answer 8

-the belief in need to change attitude in society as a whole
-feminism one strand of a broad ‘counterculture’ movement beginning in 60s

Question 9

What did this counterculture movement do?

Answer 9

-challenge traditional moral + social restraints
-feminism particularly concerned with matters of sexual liberation

Question 10

What was changed regarding female sexual liberation?

Answer 10

-the pill made available to unmarried as well as married women from 1967
-abortion act 1967 - ‘right to choose’
-foundations women’s liberation movement laid