What is Feminism?

Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define

and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the
sexes.Feminism holds the position that societies prioritize the male point of view
and that women are treated unjustly in these societies.[6] Efforts to change this
include fighting against gender stereotypes and improving educational,
professional, and interpersonal opportunities and outcomes for women.
Originating in late 18th-century Europe, feminist movements have campaigned and
continue to campaign for women's rights, including the right to vote, run for
public office, work, earn equal pay, own property, receive education, enter into
contracts, have equal rights within marriage, and maternity leave. Feminists have
also worked to ensure access to contraception, legal abortions, and social
integration; and to protect women and girls from sexual assault, sexual harassment,
and domestic violence.[Changes in female dress standards and acceptable physical
activities for females have also been part of feminist movements.
Many scholars consider feminist campaigns to be a main force behind major
historical societal changes for women's rights, particularly in the West, where
they are near-universally credited with achieving women's suffrage, gender-neutral
language, reproductive rights for women (including access to contraceptives and
abortion), and the right to enter into contracts and own property.Although feminist
advocacy is, and has been, mainly focused on women's rights, some feminists argue
for the inclusion of men's liberation within its aims, because they believe that
men are also harmed by traditional gender roles.Feminist theory, which emerged from
feminist movements, aims to understand the nature of gender inequality by examining
women's social roles and lived experiences; feminist theorists have developed
theories in a variety of disciplines in order to respond to issues concerning
gender.
Numerous feminist movements and ideologies have developed over the years,
representing different viewpoints and political aims. Traditionally, since the 19th
century, first-wave liberal feminism, which sought political and legal equality
through reforms within a liberal democratic framework, was contrasted with labour-
based proletarian women's movements that over time developed into socialist and
Marxist feminism based on class struggle theory.Since the 1960s, both of these
traditions are also contrasted with the radical feminism that arose from the
radical wing of second-wave feminism and that calls for a radical reordering of
society to eliminate patriarchy. Liberal, socialist, and radical feminism are
sometimes referred to as the "Big Three" schools of feminist thought.
Since the late 20th century, many newer forms of feminism have emerged. Some forms,
such as white feminism and gender-critical feminism, have been criticized as taking
into account only white, middle class, college-educated, heterosexual, or cisgender
perspectives. These criticisms have led to the creation of ethnically specific or
multicultural forms of feminism, such as black feminism and intersectional
feminism.Some feminists have argued that feminism often promotes misandry and the
elevation of women's interests above men's, and criticize radical feminist
positions as harmful to both men and women.

Types of Feminism: The Four Waves

Feminism is one of the oldest movements in global history. There’s no single

definition, but feminism boils down to ending gender discrimination and bringing
about gender equality. Within this goal, there are many types of feminism. Instead
of describing them in isolation from each other, feminism can be divided into
“waves.”
The wave metaphor is the most common explanation for feminism’s movements, though
it’s not without flaws. It can oversimplify a complicated history of values, ideas,
and people that are often in conflict with each other. With this simplification,
one might think feminism’s history is a straightforward arc. The reality is much
messier. There are many sub-movements building on (and fighting with) each other.
That being said, the wave metaphor is a useful starting point. It doesn’t tell the
whole story, but it helps outline it. There are four waves:

The first wave

The first wave in the late 19th-century was not the first appearance of feminist
ideals, but it was the first real political movement for the Western world. In
1792, Mary Wollstonecraft published the revolutionary Vindication of the Rights of
Woman. In 1848, about 200 women met in a church. They came up with 12 resolutions
asking for specific rights, such as the right to vote. Reproductive rights also
became an important issue for early feminists. After years of feminist activism,
Congress finally passed the 19th amendment in 1920 and gave women the vote. This
was almost 30 years after New Zealand became the first country where women could
vote.
First-wave feminism had a fairly simple goal: have society recognize that women are
humans, not property. While the leaders of 1st-wave feminism were abolitionists,
their focus was on white women’s rights. This exclusion would haunt feminism for
years to come.
The second wave
Second-wave feminism took place in the 1960s and ‘70s. It built on first-wave
feminism and challenged what women’s role in society should be. Inspired by the
Civil Rights movement and protests against the Vietnam War, activists focused on
the institutions that held women back. This meant taking a closer look at why women
were oppressed. Traditional gender and family roles were questioned. Queer theory
became more established. There were major victories in this era including the Equal
Pay Act of 1963, Roe v. Wade in 1973, and other Supreme Court cases.

Three main types of feminism emerged: mainstream/liberal, radical, and cultural.

Mainstream feminism focused on institutional reforms, which meant reducing gender
discrimination, giving women access to male-dominated spaces, and promoting
equality. Radical feminism wanted to reshape society entirely, saying that the
system was inherently patriarchal and only an overhaul would bring liberation. It
resisted the belief that men and women were basically the same. Cultural feminism
had a similar view and taught that there’s a “female essence” that’s distinct from
men.
The third wave
Thanks to the institutional victories of second-wave feminism, women enjoyed more
rights and power going into the 1990s. They were able to think about other aspects
of their identity, welcoming individuality and rebellion. This was an era of
reclaiming. Important cultural touchstones include Eve Ensler’s The Vagina
Monologues, the Guerilla Girls, and punk rock riot grrls. Many women more freely
expressed their sexuality in how they spoke, dressed, and acted. This sometimes
bewildered 2nd-wave feminists, many of whom had resisted traditional femininity.
While many ideas and mini-movements swirled around in this time, the one “rule” was
that there weren’t rules. A woman should choose how she lived her life.

Third-wave feminism also became more conscious of race. Kimberle Crenshaw, a gender
and critical-race scholar, coined the phrase “intersectionality” in 1989. The term
refers to how different kinds of oppression – like those based on gender and race –
intersect with each other. While mainstream first and second-wave feminism had
largely ignored or neglected racial disparities within gender, the Third wave paid
more attention. The phrase “third-wave feminism” was coined in 1992 by Rebecca
Walker, a 23-year old Black bisexual woman. When the internet became more
commonplace, it was even easier to hear perspectives and ideas from feminists
around the world. Feminism was expanding.

The fourth wave

Some people think we’re still in the third wave of feminism since the fourth wave
isn’t so much of a shift as the continued growth of the movement. However, with the
MeToo movement and a resurgence of attacks on women’s rights, many believe we’re
living in a new wave. Social media activism has propelled the movement firmly into
the technological age. It builds on the third wave’s emphasis on inclusivity and
asks hard questions about what empowerment, equality, and freedom really mean.
Fourth-wave feminism continues to reckon with intersectionality. Critics of “white
feminism,” which ignores the unique struggles of women of color, expose how non-
white feminists and ideas have been – and continue to be – suppressed. Trans rights
are a big part of the conversation, too. Feminism has often been an unwelcoming and
hostile place for trans women and others who reject the gender binary. Many fourth-
wave feminists are working to combat this exclusion. As with every wave before it
(and any wave that comes after it), the fourth wave is complex. It encompasses many
movements that both complement and clash with each other. This tension is
unavoidable. While some types of feminism can have harmful impacts, having a
variety of voices makes feminism more inclusive and successful.