English homework – first and second wave of feminism

 

First wave

 

The term first wave feminism refers to a period of feminist activity in the nineteenth and early twentieth century focusing primarily on women’s right to vote, as well as issues such as education and employment.

 

Other issues include:

·         Divorce and custody laws favoured men

·         Husbands had legal power over and responsibility for their wives meaning they could imprison or beat them

·         Women were not allowed to enter certain professions such as medicine or law

·         Women were robbed of their self-respect and confidence

 

There were a number of major achievements from this act of feminism such as; the opening of higher education for women and married women’s property rights recognized in the married women’s property act of 1807.

 

Women’s rights to vote in America were finally granted in 1920.

 

Second wave

 

The second wave of feminism began in the United States in the early 1960’s, and then went on to spread throughout the Western world and beyond. Compared to the first wave of feminism, the second wave broadened the issues raised and focused on matters such as reproductive rights due to the pill and domestic violence. Although the pill gave women great control over their reproduction, they were still unable to seek a safe abortion in  some cases.

 

Other focusses were:

• rights for women in the workplace
• equal pay for equal work
• improved sexual freedom

 

There were a number of effects due to this feminist act such as the Title VII of the civil rights act of 1964 being passed, making it illegal to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race and religion.