First-wave feminism

File:8marta.jpg

8marta

Louise_Weiss

Wilhelmina_Drucker_IMG0020

Aletta_Jacobs_door_Isaac_Israels_1920

Tribute_to_the_Suffragettes,_close_up

Articles_by_and_photo_of_Charlotte_Perkins_Gilman_in_1916

Suffragette_banner_carried_in_picket_of_the_White_House

First-wave feminism refers to a period of feminist activity and thought that occurred during the 19th and early 20th centuries throughout the Western world. It focused primarily on legal issues, particularly on gaining women's suffrage (the right to vote).

Origins

First-wave feminism emerged out of an environment of urban industrialism and liberal, socialist politics. The goal of this wave was to open up opportunities for women, with a focus on suffrage. The term "first-wave" was coined retrospectively in the 1970s.

Key Figures

Prominent figures in first-wave feminism include Mary Wollstonecraft, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Emmeline Pankhurst. These women were instrumental in advocating for women's rights and suffrage.

Major Events

Significant events in the first-wave feminist movement include the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, where the Declaration of Sentiments was signed, and the formation of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1890. The movement culminated in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920, which granted women the right to vote in the United States.

Achievements

The primary achievement of first-wave feminism was the attainment of women's suffrage in various countries. In addition to suffrage, first-wave feminists also worked towards other legal rights, such as property rights, access to education, and better working conditions.

Criticism

First-wave feminism has been criticized for focusing primarily on the issues of middle-class white women, often neglecting the concerns of women of color and working-class women. This has led to the development of more inclusive feminist movements in subsequent waves.

Legacy

The legacy of first-wave feminism is evident in the continued struggle for gender equality. It laid the groundwork for subsequent feminist movements, including second-wave feminism and third-wave feminism.

Related Pages

• Second-wave feminism
• Third-wave feminism
• Women's suffrage
• Seneca Falls Convention
• Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
• National American Woman Suffrage Association
• Mary Wollstonecraft
• Elizabeth Cady Stanton
• Susan B. Anthony
• Sojourner Truth
• Emmeline Pankhurst

See Also

• Feminism
• Gender equality
• Women's rights

   This article is a medical stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!