The History of Feminism

The Definition of Feminism:

Feminism is a doctrine advocating social, political, and economic rights for women equal to those of men.  “Feminism is difficult to define because every woman views feminism differently.  ‘Generally speaking, feminism is a political, social, and cultural stance that is pro-woman’ (Warhol, 1995)” (Pressman).  “The central goal of feminism is to reorganize the world on the basis of equality between the sexes in all human relations” (Langer 4).

The First Wave:

Women and the reform was a major movement during the progressive era.  “Before the 1920’s, women had virtually no rights.  They could not vote, they could not own property and they were treated with little or no respect.  Women were expected to stay at home and take care of their husbands and children” (Pressman).  Women were limited before the early 1900’s.  If they did choose to work outside of the home, it was usually at a “female occupation”.  However during the late 19th century, women were becoming more educated.  There were new women colleges being produced which encouraged women to engage in activities supporting each other.  Women started considering their lives to be more active outside of the home.  “Women are just as worthy and valuable as men and feminists wanted the world to know it” (Pressman).  During the beginning of the 20th century, Women Suffrage started becoming an issue.  There were both men and women who opposed the fight for women’s equal rights.  They felt that a woman did not belong in a male dominated society.  On the other hand, supporters felt that a woman’s experience as a wife, mother, and a homemaker could add to society and politics.  In 1920 women won ratification when the 19th Amendment was passed, granting women the right to vote.  In the end, some feminists were not satisfied with only the right to vote.  They felt that the fight for women suffrage was not complete.  However soon after the 19th Amendment, feminism started to die down.  There were a couple attempts to add to women’s rights, but they soon died out as well.  For instance the Sheppard-Towner Act, that was established by Congress to provide prenatal and child healthcare programs.  However the bill produced so much controversy, that Congress terminated the program in 1929. 

The Second Wave:

The 2nd wave of feminism stirred up around the same time the publication of Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” in 1963.  “This book inspired thousands of women to become more than just a housewife.”  President Kennedy formed a Commission on the Status of Women, in which he passed the Equal Pay Act.  “The act provided that employers must give men and women equal pay for equal work” (Abrams).  Feminism grew much of its inspiration through the blacks fight for freedom.  Women were relating themselves to minorities in America, such as the blacks.  They wanted equal rights just as the blacks did.  Congress added an Amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Title VII gave women many of the same legal protections against discrimination that were being extended to blacks.  “The bill prohibited employment discrimination because of sex, race, religion, and national origin.”  By 1963 over one third of all women in America were entering the work force.  In 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) held its first meeting under the first president, Betty Friedan.  NOW became the nation’s influential feminist organization.  They fought for women’s rights through and through.  In 1972, the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade ended all laws prohibiting abortion during the three months of pregnancy.  Women were now being able to choose what goes on in there lives.  Whether it was what job to take, what college to attend, and the choice of aborting a child.  The 2nd wave produced all kinds of choices for women.

The Third Wave:

The third wave of feminism relates to every young woman living today, because we are the third wave.  The new generation of feminist feel like feminism should be viewed as a method of supporting women rather than as “anti-male” as it has sometimes been portrayed in the past.  Today women need to be aware of what the women in history fought for, what women have overcome, and should continue to strive for.  The third wave of feminism should be women supporting each other, while accepting each other’s differences.  Women have come so far in the fight for equal rights.  The feminist in the past has made the women’s lives today easier.  Young women today have the same opportunities as young men.  It is almost as if women are addicted to striving for success, because there are so many more opportunities that can be reached.  As Karen Heller said in “By Success Obsessed”, “Of all my friends, it is the women who are the most ambitious, the most driven.  They have everything, everything.  And do you know what they want? More” (136).  However the fight for equal rights should not be over.  There still are some close minded “anti-woman” people out there, and the young women today need to be as brave as the women in our past.  If we are, it will make a little bit easier for the young women in the future.