The term feminism is derived from the French term "feminisme" first coined by Charles Fourier.
The three waves of feminism largely refer to schools and eras of feminist thought and related political philosophies. These three waves are largely North American. They are somewhat reflected in other western societies, they do not directly reflect these societies and do not include feminist thought in nonwestern countries, nor do they reflect feminist philosophy prior to the mid-19th century.
First-Wave Feminism
The first wave was associated with early efforts to acquire equality at home in terms of property and contracts. In other words an effort to end the system which made women and children essentially the property of their husbands. It also included efforts of the temperance movement, to ban or reduce the availability of alcohol and improvements in opportunity for women's education. The first wave culminated in the women's suffrage movement which secured the vote for women in 1920.
Second-Wave Feminism
The second wave included the women's liberation movement and began in the 1960s and advocates of second-wave feminism continue to be active. The second wave focused on the link between societal and cultural inequality and political inequality. It is, to a large degree, defined by the phrase "The Personal Is Political" which was the title of a 1969 essay by Carol Hanisch. Second wave feminism attempted to combat inequality and bias wherever it is found including in the home, the workplace, school and politics.
Third Wave Feminism
The third wave began in the 1990s as a response to the perceived failures of second wave feminsm and the backlash against it. It is a more holistic approach to feminism in that it seeks to fight inequality that occurs as a result of age, race, sexual orientation, economic status and education as well as gender. Third wave feminism is also known by a variety of other names including girlie feminism, lipstick feminism, riot grrl feminism and others. It's starting point and initial definitions are found in an essay Rebecca Walker titled "Becoming the Third Wave."
Beyond the Third Wave
Modern feminist philosophy includes advocates of both the second and third wave as well as others. As global communication and immigration increase feminism will likely see more changes. The waves of feminism were primarily western in origin and philosophy and women of other cultures are at different stages in terms of rights and have different ideas about femininity. Even in the west other, varied schools of feminist thought exist including eco-feminism, post-feminism, post-modern feminism, and individualist feminism.
