During the second wave, the focus began to shift from voting rights issues to broader women’s rights issues. It took place in the 1960s and ‘70s, and it built on first-wave feminism and challenged what women’s role in society should be. Inspired by the Civil Rights movement and protests against the Vietnam War, activists focused on the institutions that held women back. This meant taking a closer look at why women were oppressed. Traditional gender and family roles were questioned. Queer theory became more established. There were major victories in this era including the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Roe v. Wade in 1973, and other Supreme Court cases.
Three main types of feminism also emerged: mainstream/liberal, radical, and cultural.
One of the biggest motivating factors behind the second wave was the right to safe and legal abortions, which is clearly shown in this image from a protest during this era.