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During the second wave of feminism, three political strategies emerged that compare with the first wave feminist theories. Second-wave liberal feminism is an approach that has grown from many of the same notions of first-wave equal rights feminism. Both have the notion that women's rights are human rights, that the way for women to eliminate subordination is by gaining equality with men is through the political tools available, through government legislation, through laws, and by breaking down barriers to women. The idea of 'equal opportunity' is very strong for liberal feminists, i.e. women don't need special consideration or treatment, just the opportunity to succeed and the rest is up to the individual. Radical feminism finds its roots in maternal feminism because both are quite focused on women's bodies and women's gendered experience and roles in society. Radical feminists believe that the first and foremost oppression experienced by women is connected to her biological difference from men, her role in social reproduction and patriarchy's desire to control women's bodies and reproductive capacity and rights. Much of radical feminism writings also look at the moral superiority of women because of their roles as mothers. The way for women to eliminate subordination is to eliminate sexism. Second wave socialist feminists found their inspiration in the early trade union feminists and their Marxist analysis of capitalism and how it contributes to women's oppression. They also found credibility in radical feminist's theories and therefore felt both economic factors and gender was equally responsible for women's oppression. To eliminate women's subordination one must address both sexism and capitalism.
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