American Feminism: A Timeline

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    First-wave Feminism

    First-wave feminism aimed to create an equal societal role for women by overcoming legal obstacles, most notably focusing on women's suffrage. There was also a strong connection between the women's rights and slavery abolition movements. The timespan of the first wave varies by country and does not have a defined beginning and end.
  • Ratification of the 19th Amendment

    Ratification of the 19th Amendment
    The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.
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    Second-wave Feminism

    Second-wave feminism focused on a broad spectrum of issues, most notably sexuality, family (especially domestic violence and marital rape), workplace, and other inequalities.
  • Establishment of the Equal Pay Act

    Establishment of the Equal Pay Act
    The Equal Pay Acto is a federal law aimed to close the gender pay gap.
  • Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964
    This law prevented discrimination of sex, race, gender by employers.
  • 50th anniversary of the 19th Amendment/Women's Strike for Equality

    50th anniversary of the 19th Amendment/Women's Strike for Equality
    Women across America partake in the Women's Strike for Equality, a movement demanding equal rights.
  • Establishment of the Women's Educational Equity Act

    This law enacted federal protection against discrimination towards women in educational environments
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    Third-wave Feminism

    The third wave of feminism began in the early 1990s and continues into the present day, focusing on topics such as but not limited to gender violence, reproductive rights, reclaiming derogatory words, rape/sexual harassment, transgender rights, race issues, etc.
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    Year of the Woman

    The Year of the Woman refers to the year 1992, after four female Senators were elected to join the two women already in the US Senate.