First-wave Feminism

Definition

First-wave feminism was a period of feminist activity and advocacy that took place primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It focused on gaining women's suffrage, or the right to vote, as well as addressing issues of gender inequality in areas such as property rights, employment, and education.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. First-wave feminism emerged in the context of industrialization, urbanization, and the growth of the middle class in the 19th century.
2. Key figures in the first-wave feminist movement included Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott.
3. The women's suffrage movement was a central focus of first-wave feminism, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920.
4. First-wave feminists also advocated for reforms in areas such as property rights, divorce laws, and access to education and employment.
5. The first-wave feminist movement laid the groundwork for the second-wave feminism of the 1960s and 1970s, which addressed a broader range of gender-based inequalities.

Review Questions

• Describe the key goals and achievements of the first-wave feminist movement.
  • The primary goal of first-wave feminism was to secure women's suffrage, or the right to vote. This was a hard-fought battle that culminated in the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, granting women the right to vote. In addition to voting rights, first-wave feminists also advocated for reforms in areas such as property rights, divorce laws, and access to education and employment, challenging traditional gender roles and working to address broader forms of gender inequality.
• Analyze the historical context and social factors that contributed to the rise of first-wave feminism.
  • First-wave feminism emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period marked by industrialization, urbanization, and the growth of the middle class. These social and economic changes created new opportunities for women, as well as new challenges and inequalities that the feminist movement sought to address. The women's suffrage movement, in particular, was a response to the exclusion of women from the political process, which was seen as a fundamental barrier to achieving gender equality. First-wave feminists also drew inspiration from the abolitionist movement and other social reform efforts of the time, using similar tactics and strategies to advocate for their cause.
• Evaluate the lasting impact of the first-wave feminist movement on gender relations and women's rights.
  • The first-wave feminist movement had a profound and lasting impact on gender relations and women's rights. By securing the right to vote, first-wave feminists laid the groundwork for women's increased political participation and representation. Additionally, the reforms they advocated for in areas such as property rights, divorce laws, and access to education and employment helped to challenge traditional gender roles and expand opportunities for women. While the first-wave movement did not achieve complete gender equality, it paved the way for the second-wave feminism of the 1960s and 1970s, which built upon these earlier achievements and addressed a broader range of gender-based inequalities. The legacy of first-wave feminism continues to shape debates and struggles for women's rights and gender justice to this day.

Related terms

Women's Suffrage Movement: The campaign for women's right to vote, which was a central focus of first-wave feminism.

Seneca Falls Convention: A landmark women's rights convention held in 1848 that helped launch the women's suffrage movement in the United States.

Gender Roles: The societal expectations and norms associated with being male or female, which first-wave feminists sought to challenge.