Feminism: Meaning and waves
Meaning
The word “feminism” comes from the Latin “fēmina,” meaning
“woman,” and the French “-isme,” which denotes a belief or
movement. It was first used in the late 19th century to describe
advocacy for women’s rights and equality.
Feminism is the belief in and advocacy for gender equality, women’s rights, and the
dismantling of systemic discrimination based on gender. It seeks to ensure social,
political, and economic equality between all genders. It does not seek greater rights for
women or female superiority but advocates for a more egalitarian society, free from
gender-based disparities.
Most societies, women were traditionally confined to the
home as daughters, wives and mothers, and we are often
only aware of women in history because of their relation
to famous men. Of course many women throughout
history did in fact play an important role in cultural and
political life, but they tend to be invisible.
Feminism can be seen as a movement to put an end to
sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression and to
achieve full gender equality in law and in practice.
This ideology of feminism sparked the women’s movement in the 19 th century. The
women’s movement is made up of women and men who work and fight to achieve gender
equality and to improve the lives of women as a social group. The women’s movement
began to develop in North America, mainly because women there were
allowed to go to school earlier than in Europe - and women who can read and
write, and who are encouraged to think for themselves, usually start to question
how society works.
, Waves
First wave of feminism
The fight for women’s right to vote in elections is known as the ‘suffragette movement’. By
the end of the 19th century, this had become a worldwide movement, and the words
‘feminism’ and ‘feminist movement’ started to be used from that point on.
This first wave of
feminism included
mass demonstrations,
the publishing of
newspapers, organised
debates, and the
establishment of
international women’s
organisations. By the
1920s, women had won
the right to vote in most
European countries and
in North America. At
around the same time,
women became more
active in democratic political parties. Women were first allowed to go to university in the
early 20th century, having both a career and a family. Sometimes, the feminist movement
was even banned but didn’t lose its authenticity. They soon gained equal political rights in
most European countries, with women’s emancipation becoming an important aim and
most women being allowed to take on full-time jobs, divorce their husbands and go to
university.
Second wave of feminism
Although this second wave of feminism aimed to achieve ‘women’s liberation’, different
groups had different ideas about how this should be done.
• Liberal feminists wanted better equality laws and reform of institutions such
as schools, churches and the media.
• Radical feminists argued that the root cause of women’s inequality is
patriarchy: men, as a group, oppress women. They also focused on violence
Meaning
The word “feminism” comes from the Latin “fēmina,” meaning
“woman,” and the French “-isme,” which denotes a belief or
movement. It was first used in the late 19th century to describe
advocacy for women’s rights and equality.
Feminism is the belief in and advocacy for gender equality, women’s rights, and the
dismantling of systemic discrimination based on gender. It seeks to ensure social,
political, and economic equality between all genders. It does not seek greater rights for
women or female superiority but advocates for a more egalitarian society, free from
gender-based disparities.
Most societies, women were traditionally confined to the
home as daughters, wives and mothers, and we are often
only aware of women in history because of their relation
to famous men. Of course many women throughout
history did in fact play an important role in cultural and
political life, but they tend to be invisible.
Feminism can be seen as a movement to put an end to
sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression and to
achieve full gender equality in law and in practice.
This ideology of feminism sparked the women’s movement in the 19 th century. The
women’s movement is made up of women and men who work and fight to achieve gender
equality and to improve the lives of women as a social group. The women’s movement
began to develop in North America, mainly because women there were
allowed to go to school earlier than in Europe - and women who can read and
write, and who are encouraged to think for themselves, usually start to question
how society works.
, Waves
First wave of feminism
The fight for women’s right to vote in elections is known as the ‘suffragette movement’. By
the end of the 19th century, this had become a worldwide movement, and the words
‘feminism’ and ‘feminist movement’ started to be used from that point on.
This first wave of
feminism included
mass demonstrations,
the publishing of
newspapers, organised
debates, and the
establishment of
international women’s
organisations. By the
1920s, women had won
the right to vote in most
European countries and
in North America. At
around the same time,
women became more
active in democratic political parties. Women were first allowed to go to university in the
early 20th century, having both a career and a family. Sometimes, the feminist movement
was even banned but didn’t lose its authenticity. They soon gained equal political rights in
most European countries, with women’s emancipation becoming an important aim and
most women being allowed to take on full-time jobs, divorce their husbands and go to
university.
Second wave of feminism
Although this second wave of feminism aimed to achieve ‘women’s liberation’, different
groups had different ideas about how this should be done.
• Liberal feminists wanted better equality laws and reform of institutions such
as schools, churches and the media.
• Radical feminists argued that the root cause of women’s inequality is
patriarchy: men, as a group, oppress women. They also focused on violence
