Introduction
Discrimination against women arose in conditions of social inequality and division of labor, in other words, in a patriarchal society. The female body was considered a destructive natural force, the influence of which on culture posed a threat and had to be neutralized. Feminism is rooted in the reform movement and a new attitude towards women in secular society, inspired by the vivid examples of outstanding women in various spheres of life. Each wave of feminism intersectionally equalizes women’s rights in comparison to men’s rights by dismantling prejudices about the limitations of women and demonstrating their contributions to the scientific and cultural communities.
History of Feminism
The history of the emergence of feminism can be traced back to the collapse of feudal society. At this time, women began to be hired to work, and they themselves could act as employers of workers (Terriquez and Milkman 583).
First Wave
The first wave of feminism, which occurred in the 19th and early 20th centuries, was characterized by the active participation of women in the social sciences (Halperin and Mellon). It was carried out mainly through the efforts of the suffragette movement (Roth 12). Their main goal was to fight for women’s suffrage (Mingus). They also advocated for the eradication of all other forms of discrimination against women in the political and economic life of society (Anzaldua 384). Therefore, during this period, many women participated in politics and economics.
Second Wave
The second wave of feminism emerged during the 1960s and 1970s. At the legislative level, its representatives had ceased to advocate for the enactment of new rights(Thompson 43). Their goal was to prevent the actual inequality of men and women (“The urgency of intersectionality”). Therefore, during this period, women’s participation in the scientific community was actively developing: they made outstanding discoveries in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and other sciences.
Third Wave
The third wave of feminism began in the 90s of the 20th century and continues to this day. Activists in this movement build upon the activities of their predecessors, advocating for changes in the portrayal of women in the media, their representation in language, and the rejection of certain stereotypes (Smith). Feminists of the third wave continue to support the activities of their predecessors, actively engaging in both scientific and creative pursuits, as well as participating in social activities more broadly.
Modern Ideals of Feminists
The ideal of the political structure at the moment is a state based on democratic freedoms. Democratic freedom is the freedom of the individual from oppression, suppression, and inequality (Davis 16). The postulate of female feminism is based on this aspiration (Aron).
For centuries, women have had to fight for their rights (Quinn). European integration, globalism, and multiculturalism compel East and West to interact in terms of information and communication, and women from different civilizations support one another (The Combahee River Collective 273). However, the anachronisms of Eastern civilization are nevertheless trying to restrain the constant growth of Islamic feminism.
Conclusion
Feminism is therefore based on the reform movement and a new perspective on women in secular society, motivated by striking examples of exceptional women in various fields of life. A state founded on democratic freedoms, with equal involvement in society, is currently the objective of the political system. Women’s rights have been intersectionally equalized through each wave of feminism, which has dispelled stereotypes about women’s limitations and highlighted their contributions to the scientific and cultural worlds.
Works Cited
Anzaldua, Gloria. “La Conciencia de la Mestiza: Towards a New Consciousness.” Making Face, Making Soul: Haciendo Caras: Creative and Critical Perspectives by Women of Color, Aunt Lute Foundation Book, 1990, pp. 377–389.
Aron, Nina. “Lesbians Battled for Their Place in 1960s Feminism.” Medium, 2017.
Davis, Angela. “The Anti-Slavery Movement and the Birth of Women’s Rights.” Women Race & Class, First Vintage Books Edition, 1983, pp. 16–24.
Halperin, Anna, and Andrew Mellon. “We Do Everything that the Brothers Do:” Women of the Young Lords.” New-York Historical Society, 2020.
Mingus, Mia. “How Our Communities Can Move Beyond Access to Wholeness.” Changing the Framework: Disability Justice, 2011.
Quinn, Bridget. “What Women’s Suffrage Owes to Indigenous Culture.” YES! Magazine, 2020.
Roth, Benita. “Feminist Movements and Intersectionality: Recasting the Second Wave.” Separate Roads to Feminism: Black, Chicana, and White Feminist Movements in America’s Second Wave, Cambridge University Press, 2004, pp. 11–14.
Smith, Andrea. “Indigenous Feminism Without Apology.” Unsettling America, 2011.
Terriquez, Veronica, and Ruth Milkman. “Immigrant and refugee youth organizing in solidarity with the movement for black lives.” Gender and Society, vol. 35, no. 4, 2021, pp. 577–587.
The Combahee River Collective. “A Black Feminist Statement.” Women’s Studies Quarterly, vol. 42, no. 3/4, Fall/Winter 2014, pp. 271–280.
“The Urgency of Intersectionality | Kimberlé Crenshaw.” YouTube, uploaded by TED, 2016.
Thompson, Becky. “Multiracial Feminism: Recasting the Chronology of Second Wave Feminism.” No Permanent Waves: Recasting Histories of U.S., edited by Nancy Hewitt, Rutgers University Press, 2010, pp. 39–46.