Third Wave Of Feminism

From its beginning in the late nineteenth century, feminism has had a strong influence on the functioning of society, at individual, group and political levels. Defined as the “belief in the social, economic and political equality of the sexes”, feminism aims to contest the patriarchal society. However, in recent years, feminism has adopted a broader definition embracing intersectionality as a basis for social change. First used in 1989 by American Civil Rights Advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality describes the interrelation between different forms of discrimination including but not limited to: gender, race, sexuality and socioeconomic status. Third wave feminists aim to extend feminism beyond the realm of white, middle-class, heterosexual

Feminism began in 1890s France, with the initiation of Women’s Suffrage movement. This First wave of feminism focused on the fight for the women’s vote, first officially achieved in New Zealand in 1893. After a long period of little feminist action, The Second Wave of Feminism began in the late 1960s. This reincarnation of Feminism, was a continuation of the Suffrage movement, instead working towards social, economic and political equality of the sexes rather than the womens’ vote. Lead by a series of figurehead feminists, including Simone de Beauvoir and Germaine Greer, the movement was said to counteract the oppression of women. Third wave Feminism, beginning in the 1990s, contrasts the second wave, suggesting its representation was limited to only “educated, white, middle class and heterosexual women”. This broader expansion of the third wave feminist movement allows representation of varied minority groups in the fight for equality, not only for females and males, but also for women of colour, the LGBTIQA+ community as well as disabled women and other groups in society. Intersectional Feminism has met contention from some social justice activists, who argue that while intersectional theory is sound, in practice, intersectionality is seen to support only a “narrow political ideology" and “disregards the majority" in regards to minority groups. This criticism suggests intersectionality could still improve in representing a larger majority of minority groups and address the incongruence of privilege of this “far-left” ideology.7 A new group of feminists has been created in the third wave, guided by authors, academics, bloggers and celebrities such as Laura Bates, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Courney E. Martin and Ngozi Adichie. Third wave intersectional feminism, changes feminism from a term