I was lolling about thinking that I increasingly “identify” (🤣) as a radical feminist and was wondering if that made me second wave even though I wasn’t around in the 60s. And does it make me a Marxist? Which I don’t like the thought of because economic prosperity is nice.
Then I realised I didn’t really have a clear idea of the different types of feminism which is terrible for such a self-avowed feminist as myself.
So I thought I’d ask for help in my favourite place. This is my current understanding:
1st wave: late 19th to early 20th = political feminism, suffragettes, fighting for the vote, citizenhood and education rights.
2nd wave: 60s = radical feminism/ women’s libbers. Women as biological sex class. Liberation not equality is the goal. Most GCs hang around here.
3rd wave: 80s-90s = something to do with choice feminism, liberal feminism and riot girls. Capitalism takes over feminism and gives us shoulder pads and empowerment? A backlash happens and gives us Fatal Attraction.
4th wave: 2010s = intersectionality and identity. More anti-capitalist but more messy. Something to do with Tumblr. The rise of gender ideology. Everything goes pear-shaped and feminism is split down the middle by the trans debate.
As you can see I get lost somewhere in the 90s maybe because I was too busy watching Friends which incidentally is a hot mess of pseudo-feminism and backlash politics. But at least women were represented and allowed to be funny.
Also what is cultural feminism?
Please correct me and make me a more educated feminist!