What the thing is
A series of social movements and political campaigns aimed at reforming women’s issues arising from gender inequality. Its priorities have broadened over time. The movement has historically been structured around four “waves” marking periods of heightened activity.
Where it came from
It originated internationally with the 1888 establishment of the International Council of Women in Washington, DC; the term ‘Feminist Movement’ was coined in the late nineteenth century.
What it gets right
It names concrete issues: suffrage, equal pay, domestic violence, sexual harassment, reproductive rights, maternity leave. First-wave feminism focused on suffrage, political equality, education, property rights, organizational leadership, and marital freedoms. Second-wave feminism sought to address social and cultural inequalities beyond legal rights.
What it gets wrong
It centres privileged white women in its first wave and treats ‘waves’ as universal, though priorities vary by nation and community.
Why it matters now
Its priorities still differ across contexts—opposing female genital mutilation in one country, the glass ceiling in another—so it cannot be reduced to a single agenda.
Is it worth your time
Yes—if you need to understand how gender inequality is contested in practice, not theory.
