Study of the Development of American Feminism (1790-1990): Three Waves and Interaction with Racial Equality Movement
Abstract
Since the birth of feminism, it has been committed to pushing for transforming the inequality state between males and females. American feminism achieved incredible achievements within the last three centuries, not only legislatively, but also ideologically. Meanwhile, the feminism of America and another one of the most essential social group that struggled for their own rights of egalitarianism -- African Americans--have been influenced by one another, making progresses in separate or communal interests. This paper will use literature and case analysis to focus on three waves of the development of American feminism and some important interactions between feminism and the racial equality movement, which aims to find out the differences and evolving factors in three stages of American feminism development and analyze whether positive or negative impacts weigh more when racial equality movement interacted with feminism movement. The result of the research is that the first wave of American feminism was liberal feminism with a significant symbol of gaining female suffrage; the second wave of American feminism was more radical and far more concerned with issues of class and race; the third wave of America feminism was less characterized by a specific political agenda and more of a culture revolution. Furthermore, it could be beneficial for both of them when American Feminism cooperates properly with the racial equality movement.
References
- Definition of feminism noun from Cambridge Dictionary Online: Free English Dictionary and Thesaurus". dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
- Cochrane, Kira (10 December 2013). "The Fourth Wave of Feminism: Meet the Rebel Women". The Guardian.
- Elinor Burkett, Laura Brunell, The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica,Oct 23, 2023.
- The French Revolution and Human Rights: A Brief Documentary History, translated, edited, and with an introduction by Lynn Hunt (Boston/New York Bedford/St. Martin's, 1996), 124–129.
- The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,Thomas Jefferson, August 2, 1776.
- Gelles, Edith Belle (1995). Portia: The World of Abigail Adams. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-21023-4.
- Tong, Rosemarie (2018). Feminist Thought: A More Comprehensive Introduction. Routledge. ISBN 9780429974878.
- The Declaration of Sentiments, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, July, 1848, PL.026160.
- Geoghegan, Vincent; Wilford, Rick (2014). Political Ideologies: An Introduction (4th ed.). London: Routledge. pp. 179–208.
- Butler, Judith (1999). Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity (2nd ed.). London: Routledge. pp. 160, 9.
- Birney, Catherin H. The Grimké Sisters. Kessinger Publishing, LLC (June 17, 2004).
- Grimké, Angelina (1837). "Letter to Catharine Beecher". American Political Thought: 510–14. ISBN 978-0-393-92886-0.