Legal Reforms for Women
- Hilary
- Mar 12
- 3 min read
by Hilary Low
In honour of women’s history month, this blog will be explaining the legal reforms and changes in the law that have positively impacted women over the past few decades, through women’s rights. Additionally, there are two main branches of feminism. Liberal feminism focuses on seeking equality/equal rights within the system. Radical feminism takes a more extreme approach, many having the belief the patriarchy is the main root/source of inequality and therefore must be abolished. Today we will be discussing more on the side of liberal feminism and going thorugh the key changes in law, what caused it, its effects, and the consequent effects. One of the most well-known acts was in the 1920s. This was when the women’s suffrage act took place, allowing women the right to vote and have a say for once. Particularly in America, this movement had a significant change and the 19th amendment was put in place. The movement of feminism is taking place in 4 main waves.
The First Wave (1920s)
Heavily focused on women’s legal and political rights.
1848 - around 200 women met up in a church and came up with 12 resolutions.
This included specific rights, such as the right to vote, reproductive rights.
Before this era, women could not vote and own their own property.
1920 - The 19th amendment in America that congress finally passed, giving women the right to vote.
The Second Wave (1960-1970s)
It was built upon the first wave, still dealing with the issues of the time and challenged what women’s position/role in society should be.
Focused on institutions that restricted women.
Why women were oppressed
Questioned traditional roles (including ones in the family)
This was where the two main strands of feminism emerged.
Liberal/Mainstream - institutional reforms (reducing gender discrimination and inequality).
Radical - reconstructing society because of the inherently patriarchal system and they believed only the total abolishment of this structure would ensure equality.
The Third Wave (1990s)
Women had more rights and power.
They reclaimed their individuality and identity, maybe even rebelling.
Much more able to freely express their sexuality.
Eg. how they spoke, dressed, acted
One mantra - women should live life how they wanted to live it (choice)
They became much more aware of the racial disparrities and intersections.
Intersectionality (coined in 1989) - different kinds of oppression have overlap
New idea - first and second wave did not put focus on this area
Feminism was expanding with the growing use of technology and ability to communicate with a further reach t0 spread these ideas
The Fourth Wave (current)
Continuation of the previous waves.
Social media activism - spread of ideas and builds on third wave
Many critics - (eg. white feminism ignores racial discrimination, oppression and inequality)
May not be officially considered one of the waves yet
Liberal feminists were essential in this process, advocating equal rights. Here are some key/relevant figures:
Mary Wollonstonecraft
She was a prominent figure from the 1700s, considered the ‘mother of feminism’. She brought up key ideas, such as in ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’ (1792), where she demanded equality in the institutions of education, voting rights, and property ownership.
Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton
They were leaders of the American Suffrage movement and secured their voting rights. Led the meeting in 1848 and brought the issues to the surface.
Betty Friedan
‘The feminine mystique’ - challenges the idea that a feminine woman should not want to work/get an education. Credited with sparking the second wave.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
She was a lawyer and supreme court justice who made a huge impact for change in terms of gender based discrimination through the legal system.
Women’s Suffrage (1920) - states above
The Equal Pay Act of 1963
This prohibited wages being discriminatory because of gender. If they are in the same company/estalishment and have the same amount of skill, effort and responsibility in similar working conditions. Women could now work and earn an income for themselves so they rent as dependent on men as they used to be. Men used to predominately be the instrumental role according to the functionalist Parsons, which meant they were the breadwinner or provider in the family. This made many women dependent on their husbands to have a financially stable life, but with this act they got more pay and had the choice to leave if they wanted to.
‘No Fault’ Divorce Act 1969
No longer required to prove wrongdoing. Mutual consent (supports overal view). Also allowed for women to leave unhappy/abusive marriages.
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