The Second Wave - 1158 Words

Some accomplishments of the second wave were the reform of states divorce laws and federal legislation that mandated equal pay and equal education opportunities. Furthermore, this wave is split into two branches: liberal and radical. Radicals sought to address causes of the oppression of women. Liberal feminists worked in existing institutions systems under the assumption that the institutions themselves were not useless. Thus, their goal was to equalize, not to replace or transform. During WWII especially, women replaced nearly six million men who were across the ocean. Women appeared in factories and manufacturing places and even organized a national baseball league. This is right about when the figure â€Å"Rosie the Riveter† became a†¦show more content†¦While there were still many sexist things going on, particularly in the southern states, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 was passed. At this time, women still earned  ½ of what their male coworkers were making doing t he same job. This act looked to eliminate pay differences in the workplace based on sex. Many people held the popular belief that a man should be the primary provider for his family. Even today, women get paid less than men if it isn t a government job. The 70’s benefited the movement, especially in film and entertainment. One of the highest rated sitcoms of the 70’s was the Mary Tyler Moore Show, whose main character was a single, hardworking woman who ended her engagement and moved to the city independently. During this decade, mainstream movies and tv prorams started to portray strong, independent female characters. Although women have come a long way since the sufferate movement, there are ways to go still. Many people arguing that the biggest differences between men and women were a result of social influences, not inherited traits. Women are just as capable of succeeding in business. The biological differences between men and women is O’Halloran 4 extrememly small, and even the biological traits should have little if any effect on the law. The government should not be making any career decisions for women. Laws should