Hey friends! 🥰 So, I’ve been diving into some heavy thoughts lately about second-wave feminism. You know, that wave that kicked off in the 1960s and really shook things up for women? I recently wrapped up a book tour for my memoir about my mom, Erica Jong, and it seems like every conversation circles back to the incredible yet precarious state of women’s rights today. Let’s unpack this together!
The Rise of Second-Wave Feminism
Second-wave feminists were all about embracing sexual freedom, especially during the vibrant 1960s. 🌼 I mean, can we talk about the birth control pill? It was revolutionary! Fast forward to the 1970s, and these fierce women were fighting for basic rights—like getting their own credit cards. Can you believe it took that long? But their biggest win? The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which guaranteed women the right to make choices about their own bodies. Iconic figures like Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, and my mom were pivotal in this movement. They paved the way for countless women and opened doors that were previously shut tight.
Current Challenges and Backlash
But here’s the plot twist: just when you think we’ve made solid progress, we hit some serious roadblocks. Just three years ago, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Dobbs decision, and it feels like a punch in the gut for all of us. 😩 It’s one of those moments that makes you question whether second-wave feminism was a complete success. After all, we’re seeing women like Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton face relentless sexist attacks while trying to break through the glass ceiling. Who else thinks it’s exhausting to keep fighting these battles over and over? 🙋♀️
And let’s not forget the heartbreaking stories emerging from states with extreme abortion laws. Just last week, we heard about a woman in Georgia who had to be taken off life support because doctors feared violating the state’s abortion laws. It’s situations like these that make you wonder—how did we get here? The mental distress among women in states with strict abortion laws is skyrocketing. According to a study, Texas women reported a nearly seven-percentage-point increase in mental health issues since the state imposed these severe restrictions. It’s a lot to process, right?
The Fight Continues
Now, it seems like we’re caught in this cycle of progress followed by backlash. The #MeToo movement was a game-changer, sparking conversations about toxic masculinity and power dynamics that we desperately needed. Yet, we still see figures like Brett Kavanaugh sitting on the Supreme Court despite serious allegations against him. It’s frustrating! And let’s not even start on Andrew Cuomo trying to make a political comeback after all the allegations against him. Unbelievable, right?
But here’s the hopeful part: even though Roe was overturned, the legacy of those second-wave feminists isn’t lost. They laid the groundwork for us. Betty Friedan wrote so we could express ourselves on social media. Gloria Steinem’s undercover work opened doors for investigative journalism. And Shirley Chisholm ran for president, inspiring a new generation of leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
So, while we might feel like we’re taking steps backward sometimes, let’s remember to appreciate the battles fought and the victories won. 💪 We can honor their legacy by continuing to push for progress and fighting for the rights that so many women before us worked hard to secure.
