FEMINISM

➡️ FEMINISM – Equality, Inclusivity, and Inspiring Feminists

Feminism is a social, political, and economic movement advocating for women's rights and equality. The aim is to create a more just and equitable world for everyone by addressing historical and systemic gender inequalities. It seeks to dismantle traditional patriarchal structures and promote equal opportunities in education, employment, healthcare, politics, and society in general.

The origins of feminism lie in the 19th century and the women's suffrage movement, but the fight is still very much ongoing today. Oppression, sexual exploitation, egotism, sexism, and harassment are, unfortunately, still common problems.

Jump straight to our guide on ➡️ Feminism

Explore more comprehensive resources on -

• Essential Platforms on Feminism
• Feminist Organisations
• Important Feminists
• Must-read Articles
• Gender Equality Guide
• Women's Rights Guide
• The Suffragettes

• International Women's Day – March 8

   

The Four Waves of Feminism

FIRST WAVE (Late 18th to 19th century)

The first real feminist political movement was focused on legal issues such as the right to vote, own property, and access education. Significant victories were achieved during this time such as the ratification of the 19th Amendment in the United States, granting white women the right to vote. Black women and other women of colour remained unable to vote until 1965.

SECOND WAVE (1960s - 1980s)

Emerging in the post-World War II era, this wave expanded the scope of feminism to include issues such as workplace inequality, reproductive rights, and sexual liberation. It challenged traditional gender roles and advocated for broader social and political change. Inspired by the Civil Rights movement, women's liberation became a strong political force. During this period, the Equal Pay Act was passed, and the Roe v. Wade ruling gave women reproductive freedom.

THIRD WAVE (1990s - Early 2000s)

With more rights and power, feminism in the 90s was finally able to focus on diversity and intersectionality. It recognised that women's experiences are not only shaped by gender but also by race, class, sexual orientation, and other factors. Third-wave feminism adopted a more inclusive and global perspective and encouraged women to embrace their sexuality and individuality. There was also a renewed pressure to secure more women in positions of power and to highlight the epidemic of sexual harassment.

FOURTH WAVE (Present Day)

A continuation of the previous wave but defined by the growth of social media activism. Important themes include sexual harassment, violence against women, body positivity, and gender identity. Movements such as #MeToo highlighted the prevalence of sexual violence, the impunity of powerful men, and the need for systemic change. A resurgence of attacks on women's rights, such as the overturning of Roe vs Wade in the U.S. and Iraq lowering the age of marriage to 9, has been defined in a damning report by the United Nations. It revealed that nearly one-quarter of governments worldwide reported a backlash to women's rights last year. Many domestic efforts to tackle gender-based discrimination, recognise transgender rights, and secure the right to abortion have been dismantled.

Milestones of the Feminist Movement

• 1848 - The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights convention ever held.

• 1869 - The National Woman Suffrage Association is founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to advocate for women's voting rights.

• 1911 - The first celebration of International Women's Day.

• 1915 - The first International Congress of Women was held.

• 1920 - The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, granting American women the right to vote.

• 1928 - Women in the United Kingdom gained equal voting rights with men through the Representation of the People Act.

• 1948 - The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, stating the equal rights of men and women.

• 1963 - The Equal Pay Act was signed into law in the United States.

• 1975 - The UN's first World Conference on Women in Mexico City resulted in a World Plan of Action to achieve the objectives for the advancement of women over the next decade.

• 1979 - Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the UN General Assembly. It has now been ratified by 189 parties, making it the second most ratified UN human rights treaty.

• 1995 - The UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing resulted in the unanimous adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action by 189 countries. Women's rights become widely recognised as fundamental human rights.

• 2013 - The United Nations launches the HeForShe campaign, encouraging men to advocate for gender equality.

• 2017 - The Women's March on Washington became the largest international mass demonstration in support of women's rights. It was, at the time, the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. The #MeToo movement gained global traction, highlighting the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault.

• 2020 - The Equal Pay for Equal Work legislation is strengthened throughout Europe, aiming to close the gender pay gap. 

Why Feminism Is More Important Than Ever

We are still far from achieving gender inclusivity and equality. Girls and women continue to face barriers, challenges, and discrimination based on sex, gender and social norms. They continue to be disproportionately affected by armed conflicts, pandemics, climate change, poverty, violence, and economic crises.

The 2024 SDG Gender Index Report found that no country has reached the UN's goal for gender equality set for 2030. Worryingly, between 2019 and 2022, almost 40% of countries saw no progress or a decline in gender equality. The situation for women has deteriorated in 18 countries, including Venezuela, Afghanistan, and South Africa.

Achieving full gender equality is still centuries away.

Ahead of the 50th International Women's Day on March 8 2025, and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, the UN released a new report with shocking findings on the state of women's rights around the world.

• Women still have only 64% of the legal rights of men.

• More women and girls are forcibly displaced than ever before - 114 million.

• More than one billion women of reproductive age live in countries with restrictions on abortion.

• A woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by a family member or intimate partner.

• In the past decade, there has been a 50% increase in the number of women and girls directly exposed to conflict.

In a moving speech, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned 'that the world cannot stand by as progress is reversed'. Crises such as COVID-19, inflation, soaring food and energy prices, and the undermining of democratic institutions are reversing the gains of women's progress over the last few decades.

Feminists will continue to fight against gender pay gaps, restrictions on reproductive rights, gender-based violence, and biased representation in the media and politics. This movement is crucial to challenging harmful stereotypes and promoting the idea that gender should not limit an individual's opportunities or rights – we all can be, and should, be feminists.

Author: Rachael Mellor, 13.03.25 licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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