Chapter 23 (pp. 1137-1171)

Chapter 23 (pp. 1137-1171) 

Chapter 23 focused on capitalism and culture from 1945 and beyond. The section that captured mt attention the most was the focus on feminism and how at this time in America, society led to the second wave of feminism. Second-wave feminism widened the range of issues including sexuality, the work place, reproductive rights, family, basic inequalities and official legal inequalities. The second wave of feminism also focused on the battle against domestic violence with proposals for marital rape laws, the establishment of rape crisis and battered women's shelters and the call for changes in custody and divorce law. A women was expected to follow one path, marry in their early 20’s, start a family right away, and to devote their lives to homemaking. Women had no right to their husband’s earrings and men monitored the women’s property and earnings. Working women's salaries were less than men's and they were denied opportunities to move up based on the premise that the women would become pregnant and quiet her job and unlike men, they didn’t have a family to support. The feminist movement of the 60’s and 70’s original focus was on dismantling workplace inequality, such as denial to better jobs and salaries, via anti-discrimination laws. After World War 2, most job openings went to women and what opened the door for women to pursue professional careers was access to contraceptives, meaning that they could complete years of training and studying and launch a career without the interruption of pregnancy. The first wave of feminism focused on mostly the woman's right to vote and gender equality, but the second wave brought into focus many other issues that had yet to be taken under consideration by our society and government.