Feminism
History and Splits
First Wave Feminism
a. First Wave Feminism occurred during the late 19th to early 20th century,
with the goal of achieving legal equality for women.
i. E.g., Suffrage, Education, Property
b. This movement emerged within the context of industrialisation,
urbanisation, and broader social and political reform movements.
i. More women were employed and there was a shift in the traditional
family structure.
First Wave Feminism
a. Prominent figures included John Stuart Mills, Olympe de Gouges,
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.
i. E.g., Mills belief on the importance of education.
ii. E.g., Gouges belief of equality, amidst the French Revolution
b. One common criticism of the movement is that it primarily focuses on the
concerns of white women and ignored poor women and women of
colour.
i. Backdrop of slavery.
First Wave Feminism
Second Wave Feminism
a. Second Wave Feminism occurred during the mid to late 20th century,
with the goal of achieving broader equality for women.
b. The movement shifted from de jure forms of inequality to de facto forms
of inequality.
i. E.g., Whether women should be able to work v.s. Treatment of
women in workplaces
c. The movement focuses heavily on critiquing existing patriarchal
structures.
Second Wave Feminism
a. Overarching Goals
i. Equality of outcome, e.g., Workplace discrimination
ii. "The personal is political", e.g., Marital rape, reproductive rights
iii. Abolishing gender roles
b. Although Second Wave Feminism was interwoven with other forms of
activism, it still suffered from the same criticisms as First Wave Feminism
(lack of intersectionality).
Second Wave Feminism
Third Wave Feminism
a. Third Wave Feminism emerged in the late 1990s. It is substantially more
intersectional than the prior two waves of Feminism.
i. Third-wave feminists challenged the idea that all women share the
same experiences.
ii. Race, class, sexual orientation, and other social identities intersect
with gender to create unique forms of oppression.
iii. As a result, the feminist movement became less monolithic and more
diverse.
Third Wave Feminism
a. Third Wave Feminism focuses on female individuality and choice.
i. E.g., The reclamation of makeup. Rather than makeup acting as a tool
to satisfy the male gaze, the decision to wear makeup is empowering
(lipstick feminism)
ii. Conflict between Second Wave Feminism and Third Wave Feminism
Third Wave Feminism
Fourth Wave Feminism
a. Fourth Wave Feminism emerged in the last ten years and placed
significant emphasis on sexual harassment and the continued existence of
rape culture.
i. The Metoo movement is the most significant manifestation of this.
b. Fourth Wave Feminism coincided with the rise of social media.
i. This changed how advocacy is carried out.
Fourth Wave Feminism
Choice Feminism
a. Choice Feminists believe that female choice, even if that choice is
influenced by the patriarchy, is intrinsically empowering and feminist.
i. E.g., The decision to wear makeup, to be a housewife, or to even get
married!
Choice Feminism
a. For
i. Individuals know themselves best
ii. Intersectionality
iii. Keeping the middle ground
b. Against
i. Counter Narrative against the patriarchy
ii. Keeping radical feminists
Lean In Feminism
a. Lean In Feminists believe that women should lean into male dominated
environments to “have it all”, e.g., a stable career and a good family.
b. This narrative can be empowering but it does not acknowledge the
structural barriers which less privileged women face.
i. E.g.., Women of colour who cannot simply “lean in”
c. This narrative may also reinforce patriarchal structures.
i. E.g., “I need to work hard to keep my rich, white boss happy!”
Ideological Splits
a. Radical Feminism
b. Lesbian Separatism
c. Marxist Feminism
d. Poststructural Feminism
e. Equality v.s. Difference
