Feminist Movement in mid 1950s

When American soldiers returned after WWII, women were almost uniformly fired and forced out of the jobs they had learned and worked at for years in order to give these jobs “back” to men returning from military service and not necessarily the same men who had held them before the war. Women were expected to return to their private sphere and their duties of domestic chores and child-raising – and to do so without complaint – but the opportunity to be part of the labor force left an impression and a desire to be an equal part of the national workforce. Second wave feminism was a reaction to this post-war obsession with the ideal of the contented housewife and suburban domesticity, a lifestyle that often isolated women and severely limited their choices and opportunities.

The second wave of feminism in America came as a reaction against the renewed domesticity of women after World War II. During the late 1940s post-war boom, there was an unprecedented economic growth, a baby boom, citizenry flocking to the suburbs, and a general Leave it to Beaver mentality of the American family. In short, women were expected to stay at home with the kids and support their husbands in almost anything he did. Society was male-centric, and it was clear women were considered the second sex in America. As the girls born during this era grew up, they began to rebel in various ways, specifically in the utilization of a social movement, starting sometime in the early 60s. What is the second wave feminist movement, and when exactly did it begin? It's a much more enveloping movement than the first one, but these concepts are most of the generally accepted hallmarks from that time.

At the 1960 Democratic National convention, President John F. Kennedy made women's rights a huge part of the New Frontier. The New Frontier was a progressive platform and the Democrat's agenda for much of the coming years. He placed many women into high-ranking posts throughout his administration and established a Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. It was headed up by Eleanor Roosevelt and helped to actively engage women in politics. While not perfect in its design or execution, it helped get more women in positions of power and influence and, in many ways, was only the start of things that were still yet to come. Important to think about when considering the second wave feminist movement. 

In addition to those legal victories in the earlier half of the 60s, there were a few other cases that were won as a result of the second wave feminist movement. Griswold vs Connecticut is a landmark case in the United States in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Constitution, through the Bill of Rights, implies a fundamental right to privacy. It granted the right to marital privacy, and the state couldn't involve itself in private matters—such as restricting birth control and condoms to prevent pregnancy. While there are no exact parameters, it is generally thought that the second wave feminist movement lasted until the 1980s, where Regan and company would slowly work to roll some of these wins back.

https://dailyhistory.org/What_was_the_Second_Wave_Feminist_Movement%3F