"The feminist movement, also known as the women's movement, refers to a series of social movements and political campaigns for radical and liberal reforms on women's issues created by the inequality between men and women... Such issues are women's liberation, reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, women's suffrage, sexual harassment, and sexual violence."
The ways in which feminists have organized and campaigned for gender equality and social justice, including through protest, advocacy, and community building.
Patriarchy: Patriarchy refers to the system of social organization in which men hold disproportionate power and authority over women.
Intersectionality: Intersectionality acknowledges that there is no single monolithic experience of gender, but rather that identities are layered and multifaceted, and that discrimination and oppression are interwoven and interconnected.
Feminist Theory: Feminist theory is a set of ideas and perspectives that explore the social construction of gender, sexuality, and power inequalities, and seeks to challenge and dismantle them.
Microaggressions: Microaggressions are interpersonal or institutional forms of discrimination that occur on a daily basis and can have a profound impact on marginalized individuals and communities.
Sexual Assault and Harassment: Sexual assault and harassment are pervasive issues that affect women and marginalized communities, and have been the focus of many feminist campaigns and movements.
Reproductive Rights: Reproductive rights are the legal and social attitudes concerning the control and decision-making over one's own reproductive health and biology, including abortion and birth control.
Body Positivity: Body positivity is a social movement that aims to promote a positive body image and challenge societal ideals about what constitutes an acceptable body type or appearance.
LGBTQ+ Rights: Feminist activism has long been intertwined with the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, including marriage equality and transgender rights.
Pay Equity: Pay equity refers to the principle of equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender or other characteristics, and has been a persistent problem for women and marginalized communities.
Women in Politics: Women's political representation and participation has been a major focus of feminist activism, and has led to more diverse and inclusive political systems around the world.
Liberal Feminism: It emphasizes gender equality through legal and policy reforms that remove legal barriers and discrimination against women. This type of feminism seeks to incorporate women into the existing patriarchal power structures through education, voting rights, independent property rights, and women's legal equality.
Radical Feminism: It focuses on the root causes of patriarchal oppression and advocates for the radical restructuring of society to end gender inequality through the complete dismantling of patriarchy. Radical feminists believe that the traditional societal norms that reinforce gender roles perpetuate women's oppression and advocate for the creation of alternative institutions outside the existing power structures.
Black Feminism: This type of feminist activism emerged in the 1960s from the experiences of African American women. Its aim is to recognize and address the simultaneous experience of multiple forms of oppression, such as racism, classism, and sexism.
Eco-feminism: It argues that ecological degradation is linked to patriarchal systems of power and domination that stem from a hierarchy of gender roles. Eco-feminism emphasizes the need for a shift in perspective from one that privileges humans over the environment to one that recognizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of all beings.
Postcolonial Feminism: It encompasses a diverse range of feminist theories that examine the intersections between gender, race, class, and cultural imperialism. Postcolonial feminist activism emphasizes the importance of decolonization, cultural relativism, and the recognition of multiple and diverse forms of resistance to oppression.
Queer Feminism: It focuses on the intersection of gender, sexuality, and social justice and advocates for the dismantling of heteronormativity and homophobia. It challenges the traditional gender binary and promotes the recognition of non-binary gender identities.
Third World Feminism: It acknowledges the distinct experiences of women in the Global South who face unique forms of oppression under colonialism, imperialism, and economic exploitation. Third World Feminism highlights the importance of sisterhood and solidarity among women of different cultures and ethnicities.
Marxist Feminism: It explores the connections between patriarchal oppression and capitalist economic systems. Marxist feminism recognizes the way in which women have been systematically excluded from economic power and asserts that gender oppression and capitalist systems are interconnected.
Transnational Feminism: It recognizes that gender inequality is a global issue and advocates for the recognition of women's rights on a transnational level. Transnational feminism emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural differences and interconnectedness of cultures, while working towards the promotion of women's rights and gender equality.
Islamic Feminism: It seeks to reconcile Islamic faith with feminist activism, promoting gender equality, and supporting women's rights within the framework of Islam. Islamic feminism is creating a space to challenge patriarchal interpretations of the Qur'an and to advocate for women’s rights within their own cultural context.
"Priorities range from opposition to female genital mutilation in one country, to opposition to the glass ceiling in another."
"During its inception, feminism has gone through a series of four high moments termed Waves."
"The First-wave feminism was oriented around the station of middle- or upper-class white women and involved suffrage and political equality, education, right to property, organizational leadership, and marital freedoms."
"Although the first wave of feminism involved mainly middle-class white women, the second wave brought in women of different social classes, women of color, and women from other developing nations that were seeking solidarity."
"The Second-wave feminism attempted to further combat social and cultural inequalities."
"The Third-wave feminism continued to address the financial, social, and cultural inequalities of women in business and in their home lives, and included renewed campaigning for greater influence of women in politics and media."
"In reaction to political activism, feminists have also had to maintain focus on women's reproductive rights, such as the right to abortion."
"The Fourth-wave feminism examines the interlocking systems of power that contribute to the social stratification of traditionally marginalized groups, as well as the world around them."
"The movement's priorities have expanded since its beginning in the 1800s, and vary among nations and communities."
"The First-wave feminism... involved suffrage and political equality."
"The second wave brought in women of different social classes, women of color, and women from other developing nations that were seeking solidarity."
"The Third-wave feminism continued to address the financial, social, and cultural inequalities of women in business and in their home lives."
"Such issues are women's liberation, reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, women's suffrage, sexual harassment, and sexual violence."
"The First-wave feminism... involved... education, right to property, organizational leadership, and marital freedoms."
"In reaction to political activism, feminists have also had to maintain focus on women's reproductive rights, such as the right to abortion."
"The Fourth-wave feminism examines the interlocking systems of power that contribute to the social stratification of traditionally marginalized groups."
"The Fourth-wave feminism examines the interlocking systems of power that contribute to the social stratification of traditionally marginalized groups."
"Priorities range from opposition to female genital mutilation in one country, to opposition to the glass ceiling in another."
"The Third-wave feminism continued to address the financial, social, and cultural inequalities of women in business and in their home lives, and included renewed campaigning for greater influence of women in politics and media."