Gender equality and feminism
First ,we must know about gender and feminism.Gender is a social word that is used to talk
about how people express masculine or feminine features.Gender includes the social,
psychological, cultural and behavioral aspects of being a man, woman, or other gender
identity.And what is Feminism? Feminism can be defined as the protection of women's
rights based on gender equality.Despite some people believing that feminism has no place
in today’s society, the sad truth is that women globally are still in a worse position than
men. This is why we must continue educating ourselves about feminism.Although the term
feminism hasn’t existed for quite so long, the fight for gender equality has been going on
for centuries.Feminism certainly supports gender equality.Gender equality means equal
respect, rights and opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender identity. These ideas
are supported by existing legislation to protect these rights and provide that people are not
discriminated against on the basis of their sex. In principle, everyone should have the same
resources, opportunities,and the chance to participate in society. This includes
representation in government and media.Gender equality is not only a fundamental human
right but also a necessary foundation for a peaceful and sustainable world. What was the
gender approach to gender equality? A gender approach is a way of understanding the
complex social and cultural processes that shape gender identity and gender relations.
This approach recognizes that gender is a social construct which constructed and
maintained through social norms, values and beliefs. One of the key features of the gender
approach is its focus on the intersection of gender with other social factors such as race,
class, and sexuality. For example, women of color often face barriers related to both
gender and race or ethnicity. Another important feature of the gender approach is its
recognition that gender inequality is widespread and that social and political changes are
needed to overcome it. Feminism as a political and social movement is closely related to
the gender approach. Feminism tries to oppose social inequalities and power imbalances
deeply embedded in our cultural structures through collective action and protection of
women's rights.
Feminism, in general, means the belief in the social, economic, and political equality of the
sexes.
Feminists share a common goal in support of equality for men and women. Although all
feminists strive for gender equality, there are various ways to approach this theory.
The history of modern feminism can be divided into four parts which are termed ‘waves.’
Each wave marks a specific cultural period in which specific feminist issues are brought to
light.
The first wave of feminism is believed to have started around 1848, often tied to the first
formal Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. The convention was
notably run by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who were among the other 300
in attendance.
Stanton declared that all men and women were created equal and thus she advocated for
women’s education, their right to own property, and organizational leadership. Many of the
activists believed that their goals would be hard to accomplish without women’s right to
vote. Thus, for the following 70 years, this was the main goal.
Early feminists are thought to have been inspired by feminist writings such as those by
Mary Wollstonecraft’s The Vindication of the Right of Women (1792) and John Stuart
Mill’s The Subjection of Women (1869). Those in the first wave were also thought to have
been influenced by the collective activism of women in other reform movements such as
drawing tactical insight from women participating in the French Revolution and the
Abolitionist Movement.
First wave activism
Despite its international range, the first wave of feminism was most active in the United
States and Western Europe.
Activists engaged in social campaigns that expressed dissatisfaction with women’s limited
rights for work, education, property, reproduction, marital status, and social agency
(Malinowska, 2010).
They protested in the form of public gatherings, speeches, and writings.
The women’s suffrage movement campaigned for the right for women to vote. Their
activism revolved around the press, which was the major source of information
communication at the time. Early coverage of the movement was unfavorable and biased,
often portraying the women as bad-looking, unfeminine, and haters of men.
In the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, suffrage was associated with a particularly
prominent and militant campaign, often involving violence.
One of the most notable ‘militant’ feminists was suffragette Emily Davidson who was sent
to prison several times for her activism. In 1913, she tragically died as she threw herself
onto the racetrack at the Epsom Derby, causing her to be trampled by a horse. The word
‘militant’ from then on became symbolic for media depictions of suffragists’ actions.
As the movement developed, it began to turn to the question of reproductive rights for
women. In 1916, Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the United States,
defying the New York state law that forbade the distribution of contraception. Sanger would
later go on to establish the clinic that became Planned Parenthood.
First wave feminists had to wait until August of 1920 to be granted the right to vote. After
1920, the momentum of the movement began to dwindle after this massive success.
However, other activists continued to advocate for their rights within local organizations
and special interest groups.
The issue with first wave feminism
The activism of first wave feminism is often criticized for being a feminism for exclusively
white women. Although the vote was granted to white women in 1920, it would take much
longer for women of color to be able to exercise their right to vote.
As the suffrage movement progressed, the concerns of women of color were often
overlooked by first wave feminists. For groups of women who did not fit the white, upper-
class mold, the right to vote was not only tied to their gender, but also to their race and
social class.
Women of color often spoke out about facing not only sexism but also racism and classism.
Despite this, groups of women were often uninvited or excluded from fully participating in
feminist organizations. They would often have to join segregated suffrage associations if
they were included at all.
In her famous 1851 speech, ‘Ain’t I am Woman’, abolitionist Sojourner Truth described the
oppression against women of color in terms of ideological inconsistency. She pointed out
the exclusion of women of color from the feminist movement’s agenda.
Despite the immense work of women of color in the women’s movement, the suffrage
movement eventually became one specifically for white women, often of a higher social
class. Many of the women in the movement would use racial prejudice as fuel for their
work, many arguing that men of color should not be allowed to vote before white women
(Davis, 1980).
How did the second wave start?
The second wave of feminism is believed to have taken place between the early 1960s to
the late 1980s. This wave commenced after the postwar chaos, and it was thought to be
inspired by the civil rights movement in the United States and the labor rights movement in
the United Kingdom.
After achieving the vote for women, the feminist movement gradually turned its attention to
women’s inequality in wider society. Many women began questioning their social roles in
the workplace and in the family environment.
A noteworthy writing prior to the second wave, which may have been influential to the
movement, is Simone de Beauvoir’s 1949 book titled The Second Sex. In this book, she
understands women’s oppression by analyzing the particular institutions which define
women’s lives, such as marriage, family, and motherhood.
Betty Friedan is thought to be one of the most famous second wave feminists. She wrote
the book The Feminine Mystique in 1963 and is widely credited with kick-starting the
second wave. Friedan’s book highlighted the increasing alienation and unhappiness felt by
American housewives in the post-war boom years.
What are the ideas of second wave feminism?
A common principle of the second wave of feminism was women’s autonomy: an
insistence on women’s right to determine what they want to do with their lives and their
body. Their goals were to legalize abortions, promote easier and safer contraception, and
fight racist and classist birth-control programs.
Other major issues at the time were sexual discrimination and sexual harassment,
especially in the workplace and other institutional settings. Second wave feminists aimed to
highlight these issues and put legislature in place to prevent this.
The second wave asked questions about the concept of gender roles and women’s
sexuality. They coined the phrase ‘the personal is political’ as a means of highlighting the
impact of sexism and patriarchy on every aspect of women’s private lives (Munro, 2013).
Second wave feminists were concerned with women’s lived experiences but also in media
representation. As television became the main medium at this time, it was observed that
women struggled for televisual presence. Data from the BBC in the late 1980s showed a
disproportionate balance of 5 women to every 150 men in television-related jobs (Casey et
al., 2007).
Second wave activism
Many of the second wave feminists were radical and critical in their approach. They were
impatient for social and political change and brought international issues into their politics
(Molyneux et al., 2021). Many activists agreed with socialist ideas, while others were active
in peace movements, revolutionary workers’ rights, and anti-racist struggles.
he practice of ‘consciousness raising’ was a popular form of activism at the time. This is
where women met to discuss their experiences of sexism, discrimination, abortions, and
patriarchy. This helped to create political awareness and solidarity expressed through the
term ‘sisterhood’.
A significant radical feminist group during this time was the ‘New York Radical Women’
group, founded by Shulamith Firestone and Pam Allen. They wanted to spread the
message that ‘sisterhood is powerful’ through their protests.
A well-known protest occurred during the Miss America Pageant in 1968. Hundreds of
women marched the streets outside the event and displayed banners during the live
broadcast of the event which read ‘Women’s Liberation’, which brought a great deal of
public awareness to the movement.
During the second wave, the work of Black feminist groups brought the different
experiences and priorities of Black feminists into focus. Writers such as bell hooks, Angela
Davis, and Audre Lord paved the way for greater appreciation of the unequal power
dynamics woven into early second wave feminism.
Achievements of the second wave
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was enforced which makes it illegal for employers to have
different rates of pay for women and men doing the same job. It was also the first federal
law to address sex discrimination.
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act was enforced in the United States in 1974, banning
discrimination in access to credit on the basis of sex or marital status. Before then, many
women could not get credit in their own name or would need to have a man’s permission to
get loans or credit cards.
The Roe v. Wade case was pivotal in the legalization of abortion. In 1973, this right was
granted by the United States Supreme Court meaning that women had the choice of
terminating their pregnancy in the first trimester.
In addition to achieving abortion rights, second wave feminism accomplished other things
such as opening up avenues for women to engage in ‘non-traditional’ educational options
and jobs that would have been traditionally dominated by men.
How did the third wave start?
The third wave is thought to have spanned from the late 1980s until the 1990s. There are
some overlaps and continuations from second wave feminism, but many third wave
feminists simply sought to rid the perceived rigid ideology of second wave feminists.
The young feminists of this era were often the children of second wave feminists. They
were growing up in a world of mass media and technology, and they saw themselves as
more media savvy than the feminists from their mothers’ generation.
Feminist writer Rebecca Walker explained that it seemed that to be a feminist before this
time, was to conform to an identity and way of living that does not allow for individuality.
That can lead people to pit against each other; female against male, black against white,
etc. (Snyder, 2008).
Third wave feminists are believed to be less rigid and judgmental compared to second
wavers who are suggested to be sexually judgmental, anti-sexual, and see having too
much fun as a threat to the revolution (Wolf, 2006).
Third wave feminism is believed to be shaped by postmodern theory. Feminists of the time
sought to challenge, reclaim, and redefine ideas of the self, the fluidity of gender, sexual
identity, and what it means to be a woman.
Being enraged by this, they sought to establish their own space to produce punk music that
stood for female empowerment and created an environment where women could exist
without the male gaze.
Third wavers faced a lot of critics. The sexualized behavior of feminists was questioned as
to whether this truly represented sexual liberation and gender equality or whether it was old
oppressions in disguise.
Likewise, many claimed the movement lived past its usefulness and that the wave did not
contribute to anything of substance. There was nothing revolutionary that happened during
this wave like there was with the right to vote being granted to women in the first wave, and
legislative changes made during the second wave.
Nevertheless, it can be argued that the third wave encouraged a new generation of
feminists, and it was a step that paved the way for future waves to come.
How did the fourth wave start?
While there is some disagreement, it is generally accepted that there is a fourth wave of
feminism which may have started anywhere from 2007 to 2012 (Sternadori, 2019) and
continues to the present day.
Prudence Chamberlain (2017) defines the fourth wave by its focus on justice for women,
particularly those who have experienced sexual violence. The current wave combines
aspects of the previous waves though with an increased focus on intersectionality and sub-
narratives such as transgender activism.
Many claim that the internet itself and increased social media usage has enabled a shift
from third wave to fourth wave feminism (Munro, 2013). Chamberlain notes that ‘feminists
who identify as second or third wave are still participating in and driving activism’.
She claims generations have joined forces as ‘social media is providing a platform to a
wide range of women who are able to use the connectivity and immediacy’.
The internet has become a platform for feminists from around the world to come together to
‘call out’ cultures in which sexism and misogyny can be challenged and exposed. This is
continuing the influence of the third wave, with a focus on micropolitics, challenging sexism
in adverts, film, literature, and the media, among others.
Facebook was forced to confront the issue of hate speech on its website after initially
suggesting that images of women being abused did not violate its terms of service (Munro,
2013).
In the United Kingdom, campaigns such as ‘No More Page 3’ (a reference to The Sun’s
page 3, which from 1970 to 2015 featured a topless model) and The Everyday Sexism
Project were some of the earlier online campaigns in the fourth wave.
After the inauguration of Donald Trump as president of the United States in 2017, a
Women’s March was held which captured the international spotlight as arguably the largest
and most peaceful single-day protest in US history.
In the same year, the #MeToo movement hit social media in over 85 countries where
individuals shared their experiences of sexual abuse and harassment to demonstrate the
widespread number of cases of sexual violence and to create solidarity among victims.
This allowed people to see that sexual violence is not a personal problem but a structural
issue (Sternadori, 2019).
The fourth wave encourages women to be politically active and passionate about the
previous wave’s issues such as the wage gap and ending sexual violence. The main goals
of the fourth wave are thought to call out social injustices and those responsible for them,
as well as to educate others on feminist issues and to be inclusive to all groups of women.
7 Types of Feminism
There are many different types of feminism with varying beliefs and areas of focus,
including:
1. Black feminism: Black feminism is a philosophy centered around the condition of Black
women—who experience oppression both on the basis of race and sex—in patriarchal,
white-dominated, capitalist western society. Largely ignored by the first and second
feminist waves and early Black male-dominated liberation movements, Black women
created their own space to discuss the unique oppression and discrimination affecting their
everyday lives. The National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO) was formed in 1973 to
ensure that the demands of mainstream civil rights groups would not overshadow their
rights as autonomous human beings.
2. Cultural feminism: Cultural feminism refers to the separatist idea that women innately
possess an evolved essence, which distinguishes them from men, giving them societal
advantages that culture at large has historically qualified as weaknesses. Cultural feminists
believe that a woman’s perspective should receive more credence. Critics argue that
cultural feminism relies too heavily on the “essentialist” tenets of society’s gender binary.
3. Ecofeminism: Ecofeminism aligns the historical and present-day oppression of both
women and the environment, arguing that patriarchal societies have used the same
methods to dominate the planet’s resources as they have to control women. Ecofeminists
believe that respecting and prioritizing a healthy planet is integral to achieving true equality.
4. Mainstream feminism: Also known as “liberal feminism,” this form mainly focuses on
achieving women’s rights and social justice through legal and political reform applied to
existing social structures. Mainstream, liberal feminists focus on abortion rights, sexual
harassment, affordable childcare, reproductive rights, and domestic violence.
5. Marxist and socialist feminism: Marxism is one of the direct influences for socialist
feminists, who argue that capitalism was expressly designed to benefit patriarchal
hierarchies and encourage the subordination of women. Socialist and Marxist feminism
teaches that achieving gender equality will involve dismantling capitalist economic systems
that exploit and undervalue women’s labor.
6. Multiracial feminism: Multiracial feminism aims to educate people on how race influences
gender constructions and oppression. Multiracial feminists offer feminist perspectives from
marginalized groups such as Asian, Latina, and Black women.
7. Radical feminism: Radical feminists believe that society prioritizes the male experience
and that gender roles are so far ingrained in every facet of modern life that true equality
can only be achieved with a complete overhaul of the current societal system.
