Feminism Defined and Its Waves

Feminism Defined

• Feminism is the belief in the social, economic, and political equality of all genders.
• It's based on two premises:
  • Gender difference creates structural inequality, causing social injustice for women.
  • Gender inequality is not biologically necessary but a product of cultural constructs.
• Sex refers to biological categories (male/female).
• Gender refers to the cultural meaning associated with biological identity, often stereotyping women as domestic, submissive, tender, and good wives/mothers.
• Patriarchy is the belief that men are superior to women, due to both nature and culture.

Waves of Feminism

• First Wave: (19th and early 20th century) focused primarily on women's right to vote.
• Second Wave: (1960s and 1970s) focused on women's liberation for equal legal and social rights. It was largely focused on the experiences of upper-middle-class white women.
• Third Wave: (Early 1990s) argued that the Second Wave overemphasized the experiences of upper-middle-class white women.
• Fourth Wave: (Post-2012) centers on female empowerment and the use of the internet.

Types of Feminism

• Liberal feminism: Believes women are rational beings, advocating for equality through legal reforms rather than revolution.
• Radical feminism: Aims to dismantle patriarchy, emphasizing cultural change over legal changes.

Other Key Concepts

• Sexual harassment: Any unwanted sexual behavior that makes someone feel upset, scared, offended, or humiliated, often without consent.
• Coercion: Persuading someone to do something through force or threats.
• Marxist/Material Feminism: Examines inequality in terms of class and gender.
• Socialist Feminism: A blend of radical and Marxist feminism, arguing that women are oppressed due to gender, age, race, class, and religion.
• Cultural feminism: Suggests men and women have different approaches to viewing the world.
• Black feminism (Postcolonial Feminism): Highlights the specific challenges faced by Black women resulting from sexism, racism, and class discrimination.

Additional Topics

• Inner Peace: A state of emotional and mental calmness regardless of external circumstances.
• Human Rights: Fundamental rights inherent to all people, irrespective of any characteristic.
• Dismantling the Culture of War/Violence: The challenge of societal norms promoting conflict and aggression.
• Living with Justice and Compassion: The importance of empathy, fairness, and respect to create a just society.
• Harmony with the Earth: Recognition of interconnectedness with nature to address climate change and social crises alongside gender inequality.