The Second-Wave Feminism In America(1960s—1980s)

America has witnessed two waves of feminist movement on a massive scale.The first wave was marked by the struggle for women's suffrage right and ended with the victory of the women's suffrage in the 1920s.The feminist movement lost momentum after the campaign.A revived feminist movement emerged amidst the Second World War and the rising activism in the post-war era.The second-wave feminism has profoundly shaped and influenced the political life and the American larger culture as well.The thesis is around American radical feminism of 1960s,which mainly describes the historical background,its basic theory and proper practice,its influence to the American society and new develop trends since the 1980s as well.Therefore,by tracing the theory and paractice of American radical feminism,this thesis is to prove that women have always been active in deciding their own fate whenever possible and women's liberation should be regarded as a symbol of the modernization and progess of a society.The thesis consists of three parts:introduction,main body and conclusion.The main body is divided into three chapters.In the introduction,it mainly elaborates the cause and innovation of the paper,the material originates,and the domestic and foreign research results.Besides,I expound my own viewpoint and give a general introduction to the arrangement of the paper.The first chaper expounds the historical background and rising causes of American second-wave feminism.On the one hand,it attempts to conduct a comprehensive and systematic review of the women's idea and social changes of American first-wave feminism on struggling for the sexual equality rights from 1850s to 1920s.On the other hand,in terms of objective factors, two world wars and a subsequent economic boom have brought many American women into the workplace; civil rights movement and student movement have also contributed to the rise of the feminist movement.In terms of subjective factors,the discontent of American women about their situation and the revival of women's consciousness are the most fully direct factors.The chapter two is the main body of this artical,which mainly according to the order of the feminist movement beginning,developing,culmination and steady development, comprehensive and systematically discussing its practice in the light of personal is political.As for the achievements, through the endeavors of women's organizations, discrimination at work place on the basis of sex is made illegal. Working in concert with feminist consciousness is the development of women's literature.Then,the mild political trend of contemporary feminism truly reflects the epochal theme and traits of the pursuit of peace and development all over the world.The third chapter describes the influence of Ameirican second-wave feminism to American society and to women themselves faced with opportunity and challenge in the new era.Certain broad cultural changes have taken place in the fields of English language, moral education and religion, which reflect new attitudes toward the roles of men and women.New American women are more self-confident,independent and full of passion and hope for the future.The second-wave feminism reveals the human pursuit of fairness and justice, not only signify a kind of consciousness and attitudes of modern people,but also adds some new content to culture changes of American society.The conclusion reiterates the main standpoint of the paper.