Overview of the Waves of Feminism
- Anya
- Mar 24
- 2 min read
Over the course of history, there have been eras in time that historians have categorized into specific “waves of feminism.” Namely, although feminists have been long active, there are four well known waves of feminism—the first one began in 1848. Please see a brief but comprehensive overview of the four waves below:
First Wave of Feminism (1848 - 1920):
Focus on voting rights/women’s suffrage (ex: with the passage of the 19th amendment, granting American women the right to vote)
Considered to be the “first real political [women’s] movement for the Western world”
Early women’s rights movement was linked to abolitionism, but, many white feminists during this era resented the fact that Black men were granted suffrage before them with the 15th Amendment
Second Wave of Feminism (1963 - 1980s):
Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and also protests against the Vietnam War
Traditional gender roles—specifically those relating to women’s roles in the family—were challenged
Split into three main forms of feminism: mainstream/liberal, radical, and cultural (all were distinct, yet under the same “wave”)
One major victory of this era was the Equal Pay Act of 1963
Many Black Women created their own distinct organizations and sub-movements within this wave of feminism and criticized how Second Wave Feminism largely prioritized white women
Third Wave of Feminism (the 1990s):
Focus on sexuality, individuality, and expression
This wave of feminism was considered to be more “race-conscious” than previous ones
Many people focused on how they dressed as a way to express their feminist views
The phrase “intersectionality” was coined during this wave of feminism (the term describes how different forms of oppression overlap)
Many activists even rejected the word “feminism” as a way of distancing themselves from their second-wave predecessors
Fourth Wave of Feminism (present day):
Includes the well-known #MeToo movement
A lot of feminists engaged in social media activism
Focus on inclusivity across the board and representation in regards to sexuality, race, class, and gender
It is important to note that while many value fourth wave feminism, some people don’t consider the fourth wave to be distinct from the third
Bibliography:
Pruitt, Sarah. "What Are the Four Waves of Feminism?" History. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.history.com/articles/feminism-four-waves.
Soken-Huberty, Emmaline. "Types of Feminism: The Four Waves." Human Rights Careers. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/types-of-feminism-the-four-waves/.