Second Wave of Feminism Named

The concept of distinct waves of feminism emerged when journalist Martha Weinman Lear named the second wave in a New York Times Magazine article. Prior to this, feminists did not categorize their movements into separate waves. The identification of the second wave provided a framework for understanding the evolution of women's rights activism. This categorization has since influenced historians and scholars in establishing the timelines and contexts of women's political activism. The second wave is often associated with a broader range of issues, including workplace equality, reproductive rights, and social justice, which expanded the focus beyond the suffrage movement of the first wave. The naming of the second wave marked a pivotal moment in feminist discourse, allowing for a more structured analysis of the progress and challenges faced by women in society.