Critically assess the merits of a political
ideology of your choice among those covered in
the lectures.
May 2022 – University of Warwick
Student ID: 2116417
Word Count (excluding title, bibliography, and in-text citations): 1859
1
, Introduction
Throughout this essay, the political ideology of feminism will be critically assessed, debated, and
compared, concluding both its merits and faults. This essay will take Ritzer & Ryan’s definition of
feminism as ‘the system of ideas and political practices based on the principle that women are human
beings equal to men’ (Ritzer and Rayan, 2011, p. 223). This essay will reveal three subsections, critically
exploring different approaches to feminist thinking. First, the historical success of feminist activism will
be analysed, exploring its national and global implications; therefore, depicting the four waves of
feminism. Second, the internal schools of feminism will be defined and analysed, offering multiple
theoretical perspectives. Finally, I will evaluate the overall appeal and slight limitations of postcolonial,
post structural and intersectional theorizing. While certain internal theories of feminism appeal most, this
essay will also acknowledge the far-reaching and interdisciplinary capacity of feminism to impact other
ideologies too.
Historical capacity
Throughout history, feminism is often categorized into waves; this essay will take the four-wave
approach. In light of Johnson’s statement, ‘each stage, or as they are called in the academic world,
“waves”, had its own history and unique defining qualities.’ (Johnson, 2017, p.2), it can be argued that
each individual ‘wave’ can contribute independently to both merits and faults.
The first wave of feminism as a political ideology refers to the 19 th and early 20th century in the
western world, concerned with legal issues such as the right to vote and property rights, characterized
mainly by the celebrated suffragette movement founded in 1903. ‘The first wave of feminism started with
2
ideology of your choice among those covered in
the lectures.
May 2022 – University of Warwick
Student ID: 2116417
Word Count (excluding title, bibliography, and in-text citations): 1859
1
, Introduction
Throughout this essay, the political ideology of feminism will be critically assessed, debated, and
compared, concluding both its merits and faults. This essay will take Ritzer & Ryan’s definition of
feminism as ‘the system of ideas and political practices based on the principle that women are human
beings equal to men’ (Ritzer and Rayan, 2011, p. 223). This essay will reveal three subsections, critically
exploring different approaches to feminist thinking. First, the historical success of feminist activism will
be analysed, exploring its national and global implications; therefore, depicting the four waves of
feminism. Second, the internal schools of feminism will be defined and analysed, offering multiple
theoretical perspectives. Finally, I will evaluate the overall appeal and slight limitations of postcolonial,
post structural and intersectional theorizing. While certain internal theories of feminism appeal most, this
essay will also acknowledge the far-reaching and interdisciplinary capacity of feminism to impact other
ideologies too.
Historical capacity
Throughout history, feminism is often categorized into waves; this essay will take the four-wave
approach. In light of Johnson’s statement, ‘each stage, or as they are called in the academic world,
“waves”, had its own history and unique defining qualities.’ (Johnson, 2017, p.2), it can be argued that
each individual ‘wave’ can contribute independently to both merits and faults.
The first wave of feminism as a political ideology refers to the 19 th and early 20th century in the
western world, concerned with legal issues such as the right to vote and property rights, characterized
mainly by the celebrated suffragette movement founded in 1903. ‘The first wave of feminism started with
2
