Rockin' The Political Boat
Women of the Second-Wave
Curated by Julia Friedman
The Second-Wave of Feminism, or The Women’s Liberation Movement, was an era defined by political and personal successes of women throughout the United States. Women during the 1960s, 1970s, and the early 1980s campaigned for a variety of issues: reproductive rights, education, representation in the media, family, workplace, and violence against women.
Legal inequalities, such as those on the social, political, and economic levels, were also paramount in the fight for gender equality.
Through the years, The Women’s Liberation Movement aided women in making inroads into other professional careers, sports, and the military. In addition, it was during this era in which women realized that they no longer needed to rely on men in the political sphere to secure their rights and began running for political offices themselves. And winning.
It was not only the famous politicians who made a difference, however. The Women’s Liberation Movement created spaces for all women nationwide to become involved politically within their communities. Everyday women were now given the opportunity to campaign, rally, and petition for their rights.
They presented lectures to the community, worked on reforming the education system, spoke to media stations about sexist stereotypes depicted in local television and radio shows, led pro-choice rallies, and became influential within California politics, just to name a few of their accomplishments. Rockin’ the Political Boat: Women of the Second Wave examines the story of the Women’s Liberation Movement, and the woman who helped shape their community’s future.