20th-century feminism

Definition

20th-century feminism refers to the movements and ideologies aimed at establishing equal rights for women and challenging societal norms that enforced gender inequality throughout the 1900s. It encompasses various waves of feminist thought, particularly focusing on issues like suffrage, reproductive rights, workplace equality, and sexual liberation, while also addressing intersectionality and the diverse experiences of women across different races and classes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The first wave of feminism in the early 20th century primarily focused on legal issues, particularly women's suffrage, leading to significant victories like the passage of the 19th Amendment in the U.S. in 1920.
2. The second wave of feminism introduced more diverse topics such as reproductive rights, workplace equality, and sexual liberation, significantly influenced by key figures like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem.
3. The feminist movement gained international momentum in the 1970s with events like the United Nations' First World Conference on Women held in Mexico City in 1975.
4. Women’s Liberation Movement was a key part of 20th-century feminism, advocating for personal liberation alongside political activism, influencing culture and society profoundly.
5. Feminism in the late 20th century began to address intersectionality, emphasizing that experiences of oppression vary based on race, class, sexuality, and other identities.

Review Questions

• How did the focus of feminism shift from the first wave to the second wave during the 20th century?
  • The first wave of feminism primarily concentrated on legal rights, especially women's suffrage, culminating in significant achievements like voting rights. In contrast, the second wave shifted focus to broader societal issues including reproductive rights, workplace equality, and sexual liberation. This evolution represented a move from achieving basic legal recognition towards challenging deep-rooted societal norms and advocating for comprehensive gender equality.
• Discuss the impact of the Women’s Liberation Movement on society during the latter half of the 20th century.
  • The Women’s Liberation Movement had a transformative impact on society by challenging traditional gender roles and advocating for women's rights both politically and personally. It sparked widespread awareness about issues such as sexual harassment and domestic violence while promoting policies for equal pay and reproductive rights. The movement also inspired various cultural changes, including literature, art, and media representations that reflected women's experiences and aspirations.
• Evaluate how intersectionality has changed feminist discourse in the context of 20th-century feminism.
  • Intersectionality has fundamentally altered feminist discourse by highlighting that women's experiences cannot be generalized across all races or classes. In recognizing that factors such as race, class, sexuality, and disability intersect to create unique challenges for different women, feminism has expanded its focus beyond predominantly white middle-class issues. This shift has led to more inclusive dialogues within feminist movements and has encouraged solidarity among diverse groups seeking equality.

Related terms

Suffrage: The right to vote in political elections, a major focus of early 20th-century feminist movements that sought to gain electoral rights for women.

Intersectionality: A framework for understanding how different aspects of a person's social and political identities combine to create unique modes of discrimination and privilege, often emphasized in later feminist discourse.

Second-wave feminism: A phase of feminist activism that emerged in the 1960s and lasted through the 1980s, focusing on issues beyond suffrage, such as sexuality, family roles, and workplace rights.