Arising out of the broader civil rights movements, the Second Wave of Feminism confronted a wide range of social and political issues. Because the agenda of the Second Wave of Feminism was diverse, it touched the lives of most women throughout the world. Included among the issues confronted by Second Wave feminists are reproductive rights, racial justice, homosexual rights, and economic and labor equity for women. Not all women can relate to each of these distinct causes, but the Second Wave of Feminism nevertheless made an impact on most women: the raising of consciousness of one group of women raises consciousness for all other groups. Likewise, the rise in social status of one group of women results in the eventual improvement in social status of all women. While not every individual female throughout the world has benefited from the Second Wave of Feminism and sexism still runs rampant throughout the world, the Second Wave made great strides in the areas of reproduction, race, homosexuality, and labor.

             One of the key issues supported by the Second Wave of Feminism, and embraced nearly universally by feminists worldwide, is reproductive freedom. Birth control and abortion rights are two of the central issues of reproductive rights. The landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade resulted largely in the campaigning and awareness efforts of Second Wave Feminists. Within the United States and most of the developed world, access to birth control is a fundamental right. Abortion rights are less entrenched within societies around the world, but women have come a long way since the 1960s in terms of securing for themselves access to safe abortions. While in many places, birth control and abortion remain within the control of a male-dominated political hierarchy, in general this aspect of the Second Wave of Feminism has impacted the lives of most women.

             The Second Wave of Feminism also connected itself closely with racial justice, as feminism and civil rights emerged as cooperative political forces in the 1960s.