In 1848, women and men gathered together at a convention at Seneca Falls to discuss how to proceed in a movement of temperance, pacifism, abolition of slavery, workers’ rights and the female vote. There was much debate on these topics; including the famous speech made by Sojourner Truth “Ain’t I a Woman. Some historians end the first wave with WWI others until the female vote and ratification.
The 2nd Wave began in the 1960’s and piggybacking the civil rights movement with an increase in organized female activism for equal rights especially on college campuses. Publicity spiked with protests against female objectification in the 1968 & 1969 Ms. America Pageants. As a whole they argued against “inequalities de facto”, meaning unofficial yet in practice. Race, class and sexuality were often separate attributes (additive model), but generally women were “same”, and the goal was to become the equals of men. Please see the Feminist theory link below for how 2nd wavers defined themselves, as different sects had different agendas and utilized various methods to carry out these goals. 2nd wavers continue to be well organized, politically motivated and financial secure to finance their agenda.
The 3rd Wave can be seen as a generational shift with the maturing of generation X figuring out what feminism looks like to them. In 1992 Rebecca Walker wrote “I am the 3rd Wave,” coining the term and provoking increased attention to grassroots organization of activism for multi-issues impacting woman’s lives. Walker argued that there was not a universal female identity. Simultaneously, individualism coupled with the ability to connect via the internet, Kathleen Hanna coined Riot Grrrls, which has morphed into the Grrrl movement where women are redefining what it means to be female in a world of globalization, consumerism and increased environmental concerns, as well as a creating balance and reclaiming partnerships, child rearing, domestic duties and leisure activities.
Stepping beyond the West, it is interesting to see how cultures have responded to gender equality. Women around the world have been discussing what it means to be in a postcolonial or postmodern world and how that pertains to feminism. Women are examining the social constructs of their societies that has built in gender inequalities, globalized oppression by the West whether intentional or not, the constrains of their economies, and the impact on their lives, rights and identities. In 1997 Uma Narayan named this 3rd World Feminism as well as questioning feminism outside the West.
Next week: My Journey in Feminism.
This writing is based on facts obtained from WS course notes from Fresno State 2008 as well as the following articles/books/sites:
Boris, Eileen. 2012. “Feminist Currents.” Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies 33, no. 1: 101-105. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost Accessed August 27, 2012.
Kroløkke, Charlotte, and Ann Scott Sørensen. Gender communication theories & analyses: from silence to performance. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 2006. http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/6236_Chapter_1_Krolokke_2nd_Rev_Final_Pdf.pdf
Narayan, Uma. Dislocating Cultures: Identities, Traditions, and Third World Feminism. London: Routledge, 1997.
Rampton, Martha. Pacific University Oregon, "http://www.pacificu.edu/magazine_archives/2008/fall/echoes/feminism.cfm." Last modified Fall 2008. Accessed August 27, 2012. http://www.pacificu.edu/magazine_archives/2008/fall/echoes/feminism.cfm.
"Riot Grrrl Manifesto." Last modified 1991. Accessed August 28, 2012. http://onewarart.org/riot_grrrl_manifesto.htm.
Sociology Central, "Feminism: Basic Principles." Last modified 2005. Accessed August 27, 2012. http://www.sociology.org.uk/as4i4c4.pdf.
Wellman, Judith. The Road to Seneca Falls. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2004.
