The Legacy of Second-Wave Feminism in American Politics

This book chronicles the influence of second wave feminism on everything from electoral politics to LGBTQ rights. The original descriptions of second wave feminism focused on elite, white voices, obscuring the accomplishments of many activists, as third wave feminists rightly criticized. Those limited narratives also prematurely marked the end of the movement, imposing an imaginary timeline on what is a continuous struggle for women’s rights. Within the chapters of this volume, scholars provide a more complex description of second wave feminism, in which the sustained efforts of women from many races, classes, sexual orientations, and religious traditions, in the fight for equality have had a long-term impact on American politics. These authors argue that even the “Second Wave” metaphor is incomplete, and should be replaced by a broader, more-inclusive metaphor that accurately depicts the overlapping and extended battle waged by women activists. With the gift of hindsight and the awareness of the limitations of and backlash to this “Second Wave,” the time is right to reflect on the feminist cause in America and to chart its path forward. Contents 5 Editors and Contributors 7 List of Figures 12 Chapter 1 Introduction: Toward a New Understanding of Second-Wave Feminism 14 Abstract 14 Chapter 2 Generations Later, Retelling the Story 33 Abstract 33 Stereotypes Take Over 34 Reclaiming the Story 38 An Unfinished Revolution 43 Women in Motion: Legacies of a Turbulent Time 45 Chapter 3 Feminism, Anti-Feminism, and The Rise of a New Southern Strategy in the 1970s 53 Abstract 53 Reform and Reaction 55 Conservatives Mobilize 60 After Houston 65 IWY as Rallying Cry 69 A New Southern Strategy 74 Chapter 4 “No More Silence!”: Feminist Activism and Religion in the Second Wave 84 Abstract 84 “The Silence has been Broken” 86 “The Great Divide” 90 A Call to Action for Religious Feminists: The ERA 93 The Legacy of Feminist Activism in Religion 101 Chapter 5 Feminist Economics: Second Wave, Tidal Wave, or Barely a Ripple? 110 Abstract 110 Women in the US Labor Market 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s 112 Mainstream Economic Theory and the Economic Status of Women 120 Competing Perspectives on the Male-Female Pay Gap 123 Dueling Economists 126 The Emergence of Feminist Economics 132 Second-Wave Feminism and Economists Who Are Feminists 136 Feminist Economics: Tidal Wave or Barely a Ripple? 138 References 141 Chapter 6 The Gender Gap as a Tool for Women’s Political Empowerment: The Formative Years, 1980–1984 148 Abstract 148 Methods 150 The Gender Gap: Definition and Origins 151 The Women’s Movement Advocates for the ERA and Ferraro 157 GOP and White House Responses to the Gender Gap 162 The Immediate Aftermath of the 1984 Election 168 A Lasting Legacy 169 Chapter 7 Latina Mobilization: A Strategy for Increasing the Political Participation of Latino Families 177 Abstract 177 Who Are the Latino Leaders? 178 Latina Activism and the Chicano Movement 179 Latina Political Representation 183 Latina Political Participation 184 The Latina Strategy for Mobilization 186 Conclusion 187 References 188 Chapter 8 Black Women Lawmakers and Second-Wave Feminism: An Intersectional Analysis on Generational Cohorts Within Southern State Legislatures from 1990 to 2014 191 Abstract 191 Black Women Lawmakers and the Legacies of Second-Wave Feminism 194 Generational Differences 196 Assessing Progress in State Legislatures 198 A View from the Southern States 199 Generational Cohort Case Study Analysis: Two Black Women Maryland State Legislators 207 Conclusion and Possible Future Directions 211 References 214 Chapter 9 Not in Conflict, But in Coalition: Imagining Lesbians at the Center of the Second Wave 217 Abstract 217 Lesbian/Feminism 223 Lesbian Rights, Women’s Rights 231 Chapter 10 Conclusion: Assessing Second-Wave Historiography 243 Abstract 243 Second-Wave Feminism: Propulsion and Containment 245 Second-Wave Feminism: Resisting Whiteness 248 Conclusion 250 References 252 Index 253 This Book Chronicles The Influence Of Second-wave Feminism On Everything From Electoral Politics To Lgbtq Rights. The Original Descriptions Of Second-wave Feminism Focused On Elite, White Voices, Obscuring The Accomplishments Of Many Activists, As Third-wave Feminists Rightly Criticized. Those Limited Narratives Also Prematurely Marked The End Of The Movement, Imposing An Imaginary Timeline On What Is A Continuous Struggle For Women's Rights. Within The Chapters Of This Volume, Scholars Provide A More Complex Description Of Second-wave Feminism, In Which The Sustained Efforts Of Women From Many Races, Classes, Sexual Orientations, And Religious Traditions In The Fight For Equality Have Had A Long-term Impact On American Politics. These Authors Argue That Even The Second Wave Metaphor Is Incomplete, And Should Be Replaced By A Broader, More Inclusive Metaphor That Accurately Depicts The Overlapping And Extended Battle Waged By Women Activists. With The Gift Of Hingsight And The Awareness Of The Limitations Of And Backlash To This Second Wave, The Time Is Right To Reflect On The Feminist Cause In America And To Chart Its Path Forward--back Cover. 1. Introduction: Toward A New Understanding Of Second-wave Feminism -- Angie Maxwell, Todd Shields -- 2. Generations Later, Retelling The Story / Sara M. Evans -- 3. Feminism, Anti-feminism, And The Rise Of A New Southern Strategy In The 1970s / Marjorie J. Spruill -- 4. No More Silence!: Feminist Activism And Religion In The Second Wave / Laura Foxworth -- 5. Feminist Economics: Second Wave, Tidal Wave, Or Barely A Ripple? / Cecilia Conrad -- 6. The Gender Gap As A Tool For Women's Political Empowerment: The Formative Years, 1980--1984 / Susan J. Carroll -- 7. Latina Mobilization: A Strategy For Increasing The Political Participation Of Latino Families / Christina E. Bejarano, Valerie Martinez-ebers -- 8. Black Women Lawmakers And Second-wave Feminism: An Intersectional Analysis On Generational Cohorts Within Southern State Legislatures From 1990 To 2014 / Nadia E. Brown, Guillermo Caballero, Fernando Tormos, Allison Wong, Sharonda Woodford -- 9. Not In Conflict, But In Coalition: Imagining Lesbians At The Center Of The Second Wave / Claire Bond Potter -- 10. Conclusion: Assessing Second-wave Historiography / Lisa Corrigan. Angie Maxwell, Todd Shields, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiv Introduction: Toward a New Understanding of Second-Wave Feminism (Angie Maxwell, Todd Shields)....Pages 1-19 Generations Later, Retelling the Story (Sara M. Evans)....Pages 21-40 Feminism, Anti-Feminism, and The Rise of a New Southern Strategy in the 1970s (Marjorie J. Spruill)....Pages 41-71 “No More Silence!”: Feminist Activism and Religion in the Second Wave (Laura Foxworth)....Pages 73-98 Feminist Economics: Second Wave, Tidal Wave, or Barely a Ripple? (Cecilia Conrad)....Pages 99-136 The Gender Gap as a Tool for Women’s Political Empowerment: The Formative Years, 1980–1984 (Susan J. Carroll)....Pages 137-165 Latina Mobilization: A Strategy for Increasing the Political Participation of Latino Families (Christina E. Bejarano, Valerie Martinez-Ebers)....Pages 167-180 Black Women Lawmakers and Second-Wave Feminism: An Intersectional Analysis on Generational Cohorts Within Southern State Legislatures from 1990 to 2014 (Nadia E. Brown, Guillermo Caballero, Fernando Tormos, Allison Wong, Sharonda Woodford)....Pages 181-206 Not in Conflict, But in Coalition: Imagining Lesbians at the Center of the Second Wave (Claire Bond Potter)....Pages 207-232 Conclusion: Assessing Second-Wave Historiography (Lisa Corrigan)....Pages 233-242 Back Matter ....Pages 243-252