1.

Three Waves of feminism

We will talk about three waves of feminism from the 19th to the 21st century, showing what
stayed the same and what changed.
First, we have the "first wave" of feminism. This started in the late 1800s and early 1900s in
the United State and Europe when societies were becoming more industrial and had liberal
politics. It was about women getting equal opportunities and rights. This wave influenced
feminism in both Western and Eastern societies throughout the 20th century.
Next, we have the "second wave" of feminism, which began in the 1960s and 1970s. This
wave appeared when other oppressed groups, like Black people and homosexuals, were also
being recognized. It focused on empowering women and fighting for different rights. In the
1980s and 1990s, it also began to include the voices of women of colour and women from the
Third World.
Finally, we have the "third wave" of feminism, which started in the mid-1990s. This wave
came about in a new world influenced by postcolonial and post socialist ideas, information
technology, and global politics. Third-wave feminism uses "grrl" language to move beyond
debates about equality or difference. It challenges the idea that all women are the same and
embraces uncertainty, diversity, and multiple perspectives.
1.1 The First Feminist Wave: Votes for Women
During World War I, the National Women’s Party (NWP) protested outside the White House
for women's right to vote. They held signs criticizing the government for not allowing women
to vote, unlike Germany. This angered many people, leading to the police arresting the
protestors and onlookers destroying the signs. However, some felt sorry for the well-dressed,
educated, White, middle-class women being arrested.
The protestors, inspired by Alice Paul, used bold tactics like parades, marches, and picketing
the White House. These actions upset President Wilson, who preferred the quieter methods of
the National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA).
The first wave of feminism in the U.S., which included many inspiring actions, began in 1848
at the Seneca Falls Convention. Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote the Seneca Falls Declaration,
calling for equal rights for women and starting the suffrage movement. Despite the efforts of
leaders like Alice Paul, Carrie Chapman Catt, and Anna Howard Shaw, it took until 1920 for
women to gain the right to vote.
In the beginning, the first wave of feminism in the U.S. was connected to other movements
like ending slavery (abolition) and reducing alcohol use (temperance). It included working-
class women and was supported by Black women abolitionists like Maria Stewart, Sojourner
Truth, and Frances E. W. Harper, who fought for the rights of Black women. Elizabeth Cady
Stanton and other leaders went to a big meeting about labour (work) in 1868, even before
there were successful efforts to organize working women.
Some first-wave feminists believed that women were naturally more moral and good than
men. This idea was part of a bigger argument for fairness and equality in Europe and the
United States. They thought that patriarchy (a society controlled by men) was wrong and hurt
everyone, making women seem less important.
These feminists argued that women and men should be treated equally. Women should have
the same opportunities and be recognized for their contributions and skills. This idea is called
"equal-opportunities feminism" or "equity feminism." They believed that even though men
and women have biological differences, these differences shouldn't be reasons to treat women
unfairly.
Early feminism in Europe included key works like Mary Wollstonecraft’s *A Vindication of
the Rights of Woman* (1792), Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” (1929), and Simone
de Beauvoir’s *The Second Sex* (1949). Wollstonecraft argued for women's rights after the
French Revolution. Woolf discussed women having their own voice and writing style, while
Beauvoir explained how women were treated as "the second sex" in male-dominated
societies.

At the same time, socialist/Marxist feminism focused on working-class women and their role
in class struggles. Figures like Rosa Luxemburg, Alexandra Kollontai, and Emma Goldman
fought for women's rights to abortion, divorce, and equal partnerships, and against sexism in
society and socialist movements. Their efforts helped pave the way for the second wave of
feminism.

In the 20th century, two main types of feminism, liberal and socialist/Marxist, were very
strong, but other types of feminism also started to appear.

The idea of equal opportunity became important for studying women's issues. This kind of
research began outside of universities in the first half of the 20th century and grew over time.

1.2 The Second Feminist Wave: “The Personal Is Political”

In 1969, feminist groups protested a beauty pageant in Atlantic City to show that society was
valuing women based on their appearance rather than their thoughts or actions. They did
dramatic things like crowning a sheep as Miss America and throwing items like bras, high
heels, and makeup into a trash can to protest against the oppression of women. They carried
signs saying things like “Cattle Parades Are Degrading to Human Beings” to highlight how
women were being hurt by a beauty culture controlled by men. Some women even sneaked
into the pageant with a banner that read “WOMEN’S LIBERATION” and shouted slogans
like “Freedom for Women” and “No More Miss America.” This protest helped spread the
message of the second wave of feminism.
In the 1960s and 1970s, radical second-wave feminism grew out of movements like student
protests, the anti-Vietnam War movement, civil rights, and Black power movements. These
movements criticized things like capitalism and imperialism and focused on helping
oppressed groups like working-class people, Black people, and women. However, in some of
these movements, women were still treated unfairly and not given much say. So, women
formed groups to talk about their experiences and empower each other. They called these
groups "rap" groups or consciousness-raising groups. One important group was called the
Redstockings, who believed that women could make each other stronger. They came up with
ideas like "Sisterhood is powerful," "The personal is political," and "The politics of
housework." They believed that women working together could make big changes.
Radical second-wave feminists, led by scholars like Juliet Mitchell and Shulamith Firestone,
highlighted the deep-rooted male dominance in society known as patriarchy. They argued that
women's oppression was a critical issue, surpassing differences in class or race. They
emphasized women's roles in the family and challenged Freudian ideas that portrayed women
as naturally dependent on men. Writers like Kate Millett advocated for women's autonomy
over their bodies, while feminists like Adrienne Rich and Audre Lorde explored how
heterosexuality perpetuated male dominance. Overall, they stressed sisterhood and solidarity
among women and recognized personal struggles as equally significant as broader social
issues.
Women's liberation emerged from the New Left and aligned with socialist/Marxist feminists.
They criticized women's dual workload at jobs and home, demanded equal pay, and sought to
break gender barriers in education and jobs. Authors like Sheila Rowbotham and Angela Y.
Davis argued that women's freedom depended on ending capitalism and rising socialism.
Liberal feminists, inspired by Betty Friedan's *The Feminine Mystique* (1963), highlighted
the discontent of middle-class women due to lack of social power and political influence.
They suggested paying housewives and increasing women's representation in public
institutions. Zillah Eisenstein's *The Radical Future of Liberal Feminism* (1981) highlighted
the continuity of liberal feminism.
During the second wave, liberal feminists documented sexism in private and public life. The
National Organization for Women (NOW) found sexism in children's books and noted
different parental responses to boys and girls, revealing deep-rooted societal sexism.
During the second wave, liberal feminists focused on documenting sexism in both private and public
life. For example, the National Organization for Women (NOW) found sexism in children’s books and
noted how parents treated boys and girls differently. This showed how deeply sexism was rooted in
society.