Feminism during the 1960's-1990's
The second wave of feminism occurred during the anti-war and civil rights movement. During this era it was a fight for equality for all women. Controversy stirred when there was a focus on only white women and not everyone. Women were also often excluded from education, jobs, and equal pay. From here on out women united and started to stand up to men and unequal rights within the workforce and their everyday lives.
Liberal Feminism and Radical Feminism
During the 1960's-1970's this period of feminism was split up into two separate movements, the liberal and radical feminism movement. The goal for liberal feminism was to fight for equality for all sexes and to prove that women have the same capacity as men. Radical feminism's goal on the other hand was to fight for equality for women and they believed that men should be dominant within the workforce. Both these movements stirred a lot of controversy because of how similar and different they were. They both agreed that women needed more rights but radical feminism believed that men should have that dominance over women. While women did unite for a better life, a lot of work needed to be put in to fight for that change that women deserved. Not only for that time but also for the future.
Gloria Steinem was a leader and spokesperson for the feminist movement during the 1960's-1970's. Today, she continues to fight for women's rights and equality for all.
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Any Woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke. That's their natural and first weapon. She will need her sisterhood." -Gloria Steinem |
Musical InfluenceThis song was seen as a punk feminist anthem. It was created to show the many stereotypes of women and how people falsely looked at women affected their way of life. This song was also important for this time period because it was a push to show that women are strong and independent and not these weak, typical girls that the media made them out to be. Women had much more potential than what people thought during this era and this song really represented that women are not these "typical girls." Click here to view lyrics.
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Music during this time period really gave women the chance to be who they were. It provided women the comfort they needed to confidently fight for equality for all.
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Other Empowering Songs
Lesley Gore's song "You Don't Own Me" was released in 1963. It was an iconic song which emphasized how men don't own women. The song talks about how women feel towards men controlling them and is explained through the lyrics "don't tell me what to do, don't tell me what to say." She wrote this song to explain how she felt towards her possessive boyfriend. Click here to view lyrics.
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Dolly Parton's song "Just Because I'm A Woman" was released in 1968. This song was addressing the sexist double standards that women faced, how women are slut-shamed, and how during a relationship she was treated unfairly. The lyrics "listen and understand, my mistakes are no worse than yours just because I'm a woman" speaks for itself. Click here to view lyrics.
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Yoko Ono's song "Sisters O Sisters" was released in 1972. It was a feminist song calling upon women in power to help oppressed women. The lyrics "we must learn to ask, we must learn to fight, freedom, freedom" is a powerful line because it's saying that women are calling for help and are wanting this freedom that they didn't really have. Click here to view lyrics.
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