GENDER STUDIES

FEMINIST MOVEMENTS
Rehmanabad Campus
Waves of Feminism
Waves means era or history
Feminism developed in three waves
First Wave of feminism (Liberal Feminisms)
Second Wave of feminism (Radical Feminism)
Third wave of Feminism (Post-modern Feminism)
 First Wave of Feminism
First wave of feminism originated in early 19th century
Advocates of first wave of feminism were Marry Wolstonecraft Frances E. W Harpener and Elizebth
Candy
Main goal of the wave was women liberation from slavery and economic oppression
Before industrial revolution women and men tend to share their work and income as well (egalitarian
society)
During first wave suffrage movement of women also rises in US
 First wave focuses basic rights of women from working class
Equal opportunity demanded for women in employment, education, and politics
No race can afford to neglect the enlightenment of its mothers. (Frances
E. W Harper)
Second Wave of feminism
Second wave of feminism originated in late 19th century
Women realized that getting equal opportunity is not making them equal to men and
they are still deprived of their basic need and rights
Second wave of feminism refers to the movement of radical feminism
Their supreme goal was to abolition of male supremacy
They raised slogans like personal is political
During this wave consciousness raising increases
Women are not inherently passive or peaceful, women are inherently nothing but
human (Robin Morgan 1941)
 Advocated of second wave was Simon De beavior, John Stuart Mill, and Harriet Taylor
Focused on bodily discrimination and reproductive rights
There are very few jobs that actually require a penis or vagina. All other
jobs should be open to everybody. (Florynce Kennedy (19162000))
Third wave of feminism
Third wave of feminism is also known as movements of young generation feminist
It originates in early 20th century, when women to some extent succeeded in getting
their basic rights
Third wave refers to the movements of post-modern feminism
Major focus during third wave of feminism was queer and homosexuality
Feminism also becomes global feminism and trans feminism
Advocates of third wave feminism Rebbeca Walker, Bikini Kill.
United Nation on Conference of
women
United Nations Purpose was to integrate women into the mainstream
The member states of UN were 51 in 1951, Out of 51 only 13 allowed women to right of
equal vote and right to hold public office.
The first world conference on women was held in Mexico City in 1975, second in
Copenhagen (1980), Nairobi (1985), and Beijing (1995)
Objective of Commission was :
Political rights
Economical rights
Civil rights
Social and educational rights
 1995 Beijing Platform of Action
17,000 Participants
6,000 govt delegates
4,000 accredited NGO representative
4,000 media representative
Women and poverty
Education and training of women
Women and health
Violence against women
Women and armed conflict
Women and the economy
Women in power and decision-making
Institutional mechanism for the advancement of women
Human rights of women
Women and the media
Women and the environment
The girl-child-
Follow-up to Beijing
2000: The General Assembly decided to hold a 23rd special session a five-year review and appraisal of
the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, and to consider future actions and initiatives.
Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development, and Peace for the Twenty-First Century took place in
New York, and resulted in a political declaration and further actions and initiatives to implement the
Beijing commitments.
2005: A 10-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Platform for Action was conducted as part of the 49th
session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Delegates adopted a declaration emphasizing that
the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is essential to
achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium
Declaration.
2010: The 15-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action took place during the Commissions 54th
session in 2010. Member States adopted a declaration that welcomed the progress made towards
achieving gender equality, and pledged to undertake further action to ensure the full and accelerated
implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
2015: In mid-2013, the UN Economic and Social Council requested the Commission on the Status of
Women to review and appraise implementation of the Platform for Action in 2015, in a session known
as Beijing+20. To inform deliberations, the Council also called on UN Member States to perform
comprehensive national reviews, and encouraged regional commissions to undertake regional reviews.