Definition Of Third Wave Feminism
In simple terms third wave feminism is the act of feminism that began in the 1990s and has lived up until current day.
Definition of third wave feminism. The movement arose as a response to the perceived failures of and backlash against initiatives and movements created by second wave. Third wave feminism noun a period of diverse strands of feminist activity arising in the late 1980s advocating continued political and social activism and placing greater emphasis than second wave feminism on inclusivity with regard to race class and sexuality and individual freedom to define one s own identity. Third wave feminism is the current chapter of the feminist movement. 2 at its core third wave feminism argues that it is more inclusive and accepting of a variety of identities.
Because there are many different portrayals outlets angles and beliefs of feminism today it is easy to lose the true concepts of what third wave feminism stands for. Terms like bitch slut cunt were embraced and claimed by feminists. Another is the reclaiming of slut with the. The third wave of feminism emerged in the mid 1990s.
Beginning in the early 1990s the third wave formed as a backlash to second wave feminism s essentialist views on women and the realization that women are of many colors ethnicities nationalities religions and cultural backgrounds tong 284. In praise of difficult women by elizabeth wurtzel published in 1999 is just one example of this. Even the general definition provided above may not accurately describe the objectives of all third wave feminists. The movement associated.
This realization allows for a more inclusive community of feminists. The third wave was concerned with reclaiming terms used to oppress or label women by the patriarchy and use them as tools of liberation. But it s important to realize that third wave feminism is a generational term it refers to how the feminist struggle manifests itself in the world today. It was led by so called generation xers who born in the 1960s and 70s in the developed world came of age in a media saturated and culturally and economically diverse milieu although they benefitted significantly from the legal rights and protections that had been obtained by first and second wave feminists.