Feminism

 

 

Feminism is the belief in equality of the sexes in terms of the political, social, and economic aspects in society. Feminism is found all around the world, and it has different types, but they all have the same goal or purpose.

 

For a long period of time, men were dominant in society and there was a major amount of inequality between men and women. Women were denied from participating in many elements in society, such as education, ownership of property, and as late as the 20th century, voting. Moreover, there was also unequal pay in factories and other workplaces, where men would make more money than women even though they are doing the same job. In some places in the world, inequality for women still exists. There is a misconception that feminism aims to overpower women over men. However, the main focus of feminism is to have equality for both sexes and for them to coexist by having the same basic civil rights after centuries of nonexistence.

There are three different types of feminism or rises of feminism that took place throughout history. The first feminist wave took off in the late 19th century and early 21st century, which targeted change for property ownership, equal contract, male possession in marriage, and gaining political power. By 1919, with the efforts of many feminists, including Frances Willard and Matilda Joslyn Gage, women were granted the right to vote in America, and by 1928, the Representation of the People Act allowed women over 21 to vote which took 10 years to change, since it was previously women who are 30 and owned property. 

The second wave of feminism lasted from the 1960s to 1980s, focused on the problems that existed after the first wave of feminism took place, such as discrimination that women faced in political and cultural environments, and in the workplace by their peers.

 

The third wave of feminism started in the early 1990s, the third wave aimed to redefine the meaning of feminism after the backlash and the downfall of the second wave of feminism, which many believed was a movement that showed one form of feminism that everyone should follow and go by, rather than one that lets them discover and define what feminism really is. The third wave promoted diversity and identity, and encouraged women to express personal experiences in terms of inequality and oppression.

Feminism has tremendously impacted society and the way we live today by changing and improving the lives of women worldwide. Feminism challenged political, economic, and social systems, and addressed issues that women struggled with, and still do to this day, such as, the impact of gender roles in society, race, sexual assault, equal pay, injustice in the workplace, the rights to their own body, oppression, violence, and other factors that threatened the well-being of girls and women all around the world. In the 21st century, women still face discrimination and inequality in different forms. However, feminism is still aiming to change that and achieve justice and equality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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