The Women's Movement

The women's movement (also known as second-wave feminism) emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, challenging the inequality and discrimination faced by American women. Building on the experiences of the wartime workforce and inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, women campaigned for equal pay, equal opportunities, reproductive rights, and an end to sex discrimination. This lesson covers the background, key events, figures, and achievements of the movement.

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Background: Women in Post-War America

After the Second World War, women were encouraged to return to the home and embrace their role as wives and mothers. The ideal of the "happy housewife" was promoted by advertising, television, and popular culture.