While the origins of feminism can be traced back to the French Revolution in Europe, the
terms “second-wave feminism” and “women’s liberation movement” usually refer solely to
the social and political movement of the 1960s and ‘70s within the United States. While the
women’s movement of this time was born out of a counterculture unique to 1960’s and
‘70’s America, European, Oceanian and Asian countries were inspired by its success and
quickly adopted the movement and would go on to achieve similar feats.
The movement spread first to Europe, starting in Britain and Scandinavia, where there was
an already growing presence of women in the labour market, allowing for the movement to
quickly gain momentum. From there, almost all Western European countries went on to
foster active feminist movements during this time period, although Greece, Portugal and
Spain were considered lacking, having recently emerged from dictatorships.
Notable examples of activism across Europe included bus sit-ins in Denmark, protests
against beauty pageants in Belgium, invasions of male-only bars in the Netherlands and
Norway, demonstrations against male-only bathing in Ireland, marches of women dressed
as brides in Portugal, marches to challenge the notion that women were responsible for the
violence committed against them in the UK and Spain and a Women’s Day Off where 90% of
the female population refused to participate in household duties or work in Iceland.
The Western European feminist movement was especially concerned with access to
contraception and abortion. Notable activism included a street theatre performance in
Austria, transportation of contraception devices in Ireland, and women’s marches in Rome.
These activities raised awareness of the issue and eventually lead to legal reform in their
respective countries. In France, activists signed the Manifesto of the 343 and in Germany,
the Manifesto of the 373, admitting to having abortions.
Although many European countries relied on translated feminist and libertarian literature
from the United States as a basis for their movement, European countries quickly started
publishing their own theories and ideas regarding feminism in a number of publications,
most notably: “The Little Red Book of Women” in Belgium, “Waging the Battle” in France,
“For the Liberation of Women” in Greece, “Upside Down” in Italy, “The Tayside Women's
Liberation Newsletter” in Scotland, “Spare Rib” in Britain as well as a British news service
called the “Women's Information and Referral Service”. There were also numerous
important books published, including “The Convent School” by German feminist Barbara
Frischmuth and “The Descent of Woman” by Welsh feminist Elaine Morgan
Spreading further from the United States and Britain, the first Oceanic feminist
organisations were formed in 1969 and quickly spread across Australia and New Zealand.
The movement worked through public protests, male-only pub invasions, petition drives.
They also founded numerous feminist publications, most notably: Broadsheet, Liberaction
MeJane, The Circle and the Women's Liberation Newsletter. They founded women's shelters
and women's centres for meetings and child care services which were open to women
regardless of sexuality, race or economic status. Like the European movement, the Oceanic
movement was very concerned with access to contraception and abortion.
Lastly, feminism in Asian countries was also influenced by the Western movements
described earlier but, to a larger extent than the European and Oceanic movements were,
they were also part of greater social and political movements that were already in progress.
In China’s case, it was part of the Cultural Revolution, an ideological communist movement
that lasted from 1966 until 1976. In India, it was part of the struggle against the caste
system. In Israel, the oppression of Palestinian women sparked conversation about the
status of Israeli women. In South Korea, feminism was part of a greater liberationist fight
against dictatorship and in Taiwan, the movement was part of a greater philosophical
movement of the time related to Confucianism. The Asian movements were generally not as
concerned with issues related to contraception and abortion as the Western ones.
In conclusion, although second-wave feminism, or the women’s liberation movement, had
its roots in United States, it quickly spread to other countries and played an equally
important and successful role in Europe, Oceania and Asia in the fight for women’s rights
and equality.