1950’s: “White collar” service workers outnumbered “blue collar” workers in 1956, which provided women with more opportunities for work. However, the majority returned to their homes to nurture the babies that were born during the baby boom after World War II. The Women’s Rights Movement temporarily slowed down as most white, middle class women stayed at their suburban homes and enjoyed a period of conformity and a relaxing lifestyle free from war.
1960’s: The “second wave” of the Women’s Rights movement took place in the late 20th century. It was started by Betty Friedan. She wrote a book in 1963 called “The Feminine Mystique”. The book stated that women were living in “comfortable concentration camps” in the suburbs. In 1966, Friedan founded the National Organization for Women to support feminism. NOW fought for an Equal Rights Amendment to the constitution. The second wave movement also had many young women who were radicals and fought the traditional roles that men and women were given. Robin Morgan founded the Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell, which also fought for women’s rights. The feminists in this period disagreed on many ideas and issues from how much to expect from the government to gender equality. However, most of them agreed on the right of abortion and that changing the law would help equalize their status with men. Both radical and moderate feminists led to the many reforms that were created by the end of the 20th century.
1960’s: The “second wave” of the Women’s Rights movement took place in the late 20th century. It was started by Betty Friedan. She wrote a book in 1963 called “The Feminine Mystique”. The book stated that women were living in “comfortable concentration camps” in the suburbs. In 1966, Friedan founded the National Organization for Women to support feminism. NOW fought for an Equal Rights Amendment to the constitution. The second wave movement also had many young women who were radicals and fought the traditional roles that men and women were given. Robin Morgan founded the Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell, which also fought for women’s rights. The feminists in this period disagreed on many ideas and issues from how much to expect from the government to gender equality. However, most of them agreed on the right of abortion and that changing the law would help equalize their status with men. Both radical and moderate feminists led to the many reforms that were created by the end of the 20th century.