Second Wave Feminism

Since conquering the battle for women to vote, time went by in between the 1920's until the 1960's when feminists were still active, but a new wave had yet to occur. By the mid 1960's women wanted more involvement in high education and wanted to shatter the picture of a stay at home mom who cooked and cleaned and took after the children.

The 1950's and 1960's were a time when white picket fences and Leave it to Beaver were completley normal, but within this pop culture image, there was a lot missing. Blacks all throughout America were fighting to gain equal rights, and fight the "seperate but equal" law that had been instated. While the Civil Rights Movement was going on, women were also fighting to have equal access to jobs, money, and education in the same way that men did.

Prominent schools such as Harvard, and Columbia combined with all female schools to become co-educational. This theme of men and women learning together was not only in higher education, but also took place in big private and boarding schools as well. These changes were made because women had a stronger desire for education then before, and they saw it was unfair that these prestigious institutions were only offered to men.

This time also allowed for a more free and open view on gay relationships. The gay rights movement was simultaneously taking place, and for women, opening up about being a lesbian became more accepted. They were fighting for equal rights and job opportunities as a lesbian and as a woman, and after time, being homosexual was not nearly as frowned upon.