LITERARY SPHERE

The Four Waves of Feminism The Four Waves of Feminism This comprehensive note explores the evolution of the feminist movement, categorized into its four distinct “waves.” Each wave represents a specific era of activism, theoretical development, and literary contribution, reflecting the changing socio-political landscape of the last two centuries. The First Wave: Suffrage and Legal Personhood (Late 19th – Early 20th Century) The first wave of feminism primarily focused on the legal rights of women, specifically the right to vote ( suffrage ) and the right to own property. Emerging from the environment of urban industrialism and liberal socialist politics, it was heavily influenced by the Enlightenment ideals of individual liberty. The movement sought to overturn the legal doctrine of coverture , which stipulated that a woman’s legal identity was subsumed by her husband upon marriage. The foun...