Feminism seeks to achieve equal social, political, and economic rights for women and men. It originated in France in the 1870s and refers to organized actions to end patterns that have disadvantaged women. There have been four waves of feminism focused on issues like suffrage, workplace discrimination, sexuality, and today's focus on issues like campus rape and sexual harassment through movements like #MeToo. Schools of feminism include radical feminism, which believes the patriarchal hierarchy must change for equality, and cultural feminism, which celebrates women's experiences and values.

1. CONCEPT OF FEMINISM

2.  Feminism is a complex set of ideologies and theories,
that at its core seeks to achieve equal social, political,
and economic rights for women and men.
 Feminism refers to a diverse variety of beliefs, ideas,
movements, and agendas for action. It refers to any
actions, especially organized, that promote changes in
society to end patterns that have disadvantaged women.

3. The Origin of the Word "Feminism"
 While it is common to see the word "feminist" used for
figures such as Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797), the
terms feminist and feminism were not used in the modern
sense until a century after her 1792 book "A Vindication of
the Rights of Women" was published.
 The term first appeared during the 1870s in France
as féminisme—although there has been some assumption
that it may have been used before then. At the time, the
word referred to women's freedom or emancipation.
 In 1882, Hubertine Auclert, a leading French feminist and a
campaigner for women's suffrage, used the
term féministe to describe herself and others working for
women's freedom.
 In 1892, a congress in Paris was described as "feminist."

4. Feminism and Society
 Almost all modern societal structures are patriarchal and
are constructed in such a way that men are the dominant
force in making the majority of political, economic, and
cultural decisions.
 Feminism focuses on the idea that since women comprise
one-half of the world population, true social progress can
never be achieved without the complete and spontaneous
participation of women.
 Feminist ideals and beliefs focus on what culture is like for
women as compared to what the world is like for men. The
feminist assumption is that women are not treated equally
to men and as a result, women are disadvantaged in
comparison to men.
 Feminist ideology considers in which ways culture can and
should be different between genders: Do different genders
have different goals, ideals, and visions? There's a great
deal of value placed on the importance of moving from

5. Feminism and Sexuality
 One arena in which women have long been oppressed is
with regard to sexuality, which includes behavior,
interactions with men, posture, and exposure of the body.
 In traditional societies, men are expected to be the
commanders, standing tall and allowing their physical
presence to represent their role in society, while women
are expected to be quieter and more subservient. Under
such societal conventions, women are not supposed to
take up much space at the table, and most certainly, they
should not be seen as a distraction to the men around
them.
 Feminism seeks to embrace female sexuality and
celebrate it, as opposed to so many societal conventions
that condemn women who are sexually aware and
empowered. The practice of elevating sexually active men

6.  Women have long been subjected to sexual
objectification by men. Many cultures still cling to the
notion that women must dress so as to not arouse
men, and in many societies, women are required to
fully cover their bodies.
 On the other hand, in some so-called enlightened
societies, female sexuality is routinely exploited in the
mass media. Scantily clad women in advertising and
full nudity in movies and television are
commonplace—and yet, many women are shamed for
breastfeeding in public. These conflicting views on
female sexuality create a confusing landscape of
expectations that women and men must navigate on a

7. Feminism in the Workplace
 There are many differences within the constellation of
feminist ideals, groups, and movements related to
workplace unfairness, discrimination, and oppression that
result from the real disadvantages women experience.
 Feminism assumes that sexism, which disadvantages
and/or oppresses those identified as women, is not
desirable and should be eliminated, however, it continues
to be an issue in the workplace.
 Unequal salaries are still pervasive in the workforce.

8. What Feminism Is and What it Isn't
 There is a common misconception that feminists are
reverse sexists, however, unlike male sexists who oppress
women, feminists do not seek to oppress men.
 They seek equal compensation, opportunities, and
treatment for both genders.
 Feminism seeks to achieve equal treatment and
opportunity for women and men in order to achieve similar
opportunities across different fields of work and culture and
equal respect in a variety of roles.

9.  Feminists theorists often explore the concepts with
regard to which of women's experiences are taken as
normative: Do women of different races, classes, age
groups, etc. experience inequality in significantly
different ways or is the common experience as women
more important?
 The goal of feminism is to create non-discrimination,
which is essential for creating equality to ensure that
no one is denied their rights due to factors such as
race, gender, language, religion, sexual orientation,
gender identity, political or other beliefs, nationality,
social origin, class, or wealth status.

10. Growth of Feminism
through the Four Waves of
Feminism

11. First Wave of Feminism
 The time period of this wave is 1830’s till early 1900’s in
which Women’s fight for equal contract and property rights.
 Women in the late 19th to early 20th centuries, realized
that they must first gain political power including the right to
vote to bring about change was how to fuel the fire.
 Their political agenda expanded to issues concerning
sexual, reproductive and economic matters. The seed was
planted that women have the potential to contribute just as
much if not more than men.

12. Second Wave of Feminism
 (1960’s-1980’s): Broadening the debate
 Coming off the heels of World War II, the second wave of
feminism focused on the workplace, sexuality, family and
reproductive rights. During a time when the United States was
already trying to restructure itself, it was perceived that women
had met their equality goals with the exception of the failure of
the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (which has still
yet to be passed).
 Misconceptions…
 This time is often dismissed as offensive, outdated and
obsessed with middle class white women’s problems.
Conversely, many women during the second wave were initially
part of the Black Civil Rights Movement, Anti Vietnam
Movement, Chicano Rights Movement, Asian-American Civil
Rights Movement, Gay and Lesbian Movement and many other
groups fighting for equality. Many of the women supporters of
the aforementioned groups felt their voices were not being
heard and felt that in order to gain respect in co-ed
organizations they first needed to address gender equality

13. The third wave
 (1990’s – early 2000’s): The “micropolitics” of gender
equality
 Unlike the former movements, the term ‘feminist’ becomes less
critically received by the female population due to the varying
feminist outlooks. There are the ego-cultural feminists, the
radicals, the liberal/reforms, the electoral, academic,
ecofeminists… the list goes on.
 The main issues were prefaced by the work done by the
previous waves of women. The fight continued to vanquish the
disparities in male and female pay and the reproductive rights of
women. Work continues to end violence against women in our
nation as well as abroad. This wave was about acceptance and
a true understanding of the term ‘feminism’.
 It should be noted that tremendous progress has been made
since the first wave, but there is still much to be done. Due to the
range of feminist issues today, it is much harder to put a label on
what a feminist looks like- leading to a brand new generation
rallying for equality and women’s rights…..

14. The Fourth wave
 The main issues women fight for today are fueled
by the previous battles of the women before them
–shattering glass ceilings, reproductive rights, as
well as new issues brought into the spotlight,
such as campus rape, workplace discrimination
and sexual harassment.
 Empowered by the constant connectivity of the
Internet and the strength of the #MeToo
movement, a new wave of feminists are speaking
out in record numbers against discrimination. A
new era for feminism has begun, full of passion,
social-influencing power, and demanding change.

15.  The #MeToo movement – millions of women across
the globe united, stepping up to share their own
assault stories using the #MeToo hashtag.
 The Time’s Up Movement- bringing high profile
assault cases to the spotlight. Influential and well-
known men such as Roger Ailes, Harvey Weinstein,
Matt Lauer, Bill Cosby, Bill O’Reilly, Mario Batali and
former Senator Al Franken are exposed for their
manipulative and atrocious acts, fueled by high-profile
women and celebrities demanding changes in their
respective industries.
 A record number of women seek political office and
leadership roles. The demand for equality, rights,
equal pay is brought to the public eye at record highs-
highlighted by marches across the country, social
media campaigns, and high-profile women taking a
strong stance.

16. Schools of Feminism

17. Radical Feminism
 Though many see radical feminism as an undesirable type
of the concept, it is actually responsible for development of
many thoughts, ideas, and actions that would otherwise be
shunned or avoided by the other types of feminism.
 Radical feminism takes its name from the Latin word,
which means root. This feminism believes in ‘going to the
root’ or source of the problem.
 Radical feminism believes that it is the male-dominated
hierarchy (or patriarchy) which is responsible for the
oppressed status of women today.

18.  According to this branch of feminism, if changes are not
brought about in this hierarchy, there can be no equality
between men and women, and that a total reconstruction
of the society is necessary to bring about the desired
reforms.
 Over time, radical feminism has given birth to several
sub-categories that each focus on a particular issue with
a similar approach.

19. Cultural Feminism
 Some experts feel that cultural feminism is a branch of
radical feminism, while others feel that the two differ
considerably.
 Cultural feminism believes that the society needs a female
‘essence’ or a female ‘nature’.
 This kind of feminism believes that the qualities present in
women are not only unique, but also superior than those
present in men.
 These qualities, say cultural feminists, are more of a
psychological and cultural nature than biological.
 These feminists believe that the female essence should be
celebrated, and infused with the male-dominated world to
provide the right balance to the working of society.

20. Socialist and Marxist Feminism
 This type of feminism believes that the oppressed status of
women can be attributed to the unequal treatment at both
the workplace, and in the house.
 Financial and personal exploitation, the institution of
marriage, childbirth and childcare, prostitution, and
domestic work, according to socialist feminists, are tools
for degrading women, and the work that they do, in a male-
dominated society. They believe in work that causes
reforms in the society as a whole, and not on an individual
or community level.

21.  Marx was of the opinion that the capitalist system was to
blame for the inequalities faced by the working classes,
and the removal of the capitalist system would remove
these inequalities, which would ultimately reduce gender
inequalities as well. This is the attitude adopted by Marxist
feminism.
 Many socialist and Marxist feminists put these
philosophies together to achieve gender equality in both
the professional as well as personal spheres. Socialist
and Marxist feminism often considers itself to be a sub-
category of radical feminism, only referring to a different
‘root of all problems’, which is the economic system.

22. Eco-feminism
 Ecofeminism is actually the combination of ecology, and
feminism, that dwells on the symbolic relationship between
the oppression of women, and the destruction of the
environment.
 It is actually a little philosophical, and spiritual in nature,
and hence has been a target of critics for a long time.
 Ecofeminism believes that the destruction of environment
and the oppression of women in society are symbolically
related to one another.
 According to this theory, just like men control and destroy
the environment for their own benefit and pleasure, they
control and oppress women too, for the same reason.
 Ecofeminism advocates that women should try to reduce

23. Black Feminism
 Black feminism believes that racism and gender
discrimination are two sides of the same coin. The
liberation and freedom from oppression of black women
would ensure equality for everyone, according to Black
Feminists, who refer to themselves as ‘Womanists’.
 Black feminism believes that if the liberation of black
women is successful, it would mean the liberation of all
women, racial discrimination, as well as discrimination
based on economic classes.

24. Separatist Feminism
 Separatist feminism is against the concept of heterosexual
relationships, saying that it is not possible to solve the
sexual differences that exist between a man and a woman.
Separatist feminists believe that no man can contribute
positively to the feminist movement, and hence it is just
better to avoid relationships with men, as even the most
radical of men display signs of patriarchy somewhere or
the other.

25. I-Feminism
 I-feminism is a newer branch of feminism which focuses on
the individuality of women, as well as their individual
choices.
 I-feminists account for freedom, peace, and harmony in
society based on individual choices, and support every
personal choice, from heterosexual relationships to
homosexual relationships to pornography.
 I-feminism activists feel that each woman is responsible for
her life, her status, and her choices. They do not expect
the government to help them specifically to achieve these
targets; they believe that each woman can achieve her
personal targets and be personally responsible for them.

26.  Equality does not exist in a society where males feel
they are superior to females in any way, be it in
driving, intelligence, at the workplace, in handling
finances, in making decisions, or even in handling
an entire country.
 Similarly, feminism does not exist when women
believe they are superior to men in any way.
Feminism advocates for complete equality between
the two sexes― there should be no hierarchy, and
no social pyramid.