The Four Stages Of The Feminist Movement

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In the 1960’s people like Malcolm X and Dr. King fought for the civil rights of African-Americans, while women like the Suffragettes and Betty Friedan fought for the civil rights of women. Feminism has come in four waves in American culture, the first starting in the early 19th century, and the fourth starting around 2012 and continuing to present day. The first wave of feminism consisted of women trying to gain rights to vote, their own reproductive rights, and trying to bring attention to domestic violence against them. Feminism today consists of women trying to fight for equal rights to those of men, like having the same wages, the same social standards, and trying to break gender stereotypes. Feminism has grown and widely spread around …show more content…

While the nation uses this revolution as an opportunity to voice their opinions, it has also shown me that I should stand up for what I believe in, and make my voice heard. As Dr. Martin Luther King stated in his Letter from Birmingham Jail, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King). Anywhere in the world where feminism is not accepted, and women do not have rights, puts the feminist movement a step back in its efforts. As a young adult during this wave of feminism, I have contributed to the cause in ways I see fit; I have debates with classmates, and voice my opinion on current events. I feel as if I have a responsibility as a young women to continue to fight for the equal rights of people, unbiased of race, gender, and sexual orientation, all over the world. This revolution influenced my life because I had a strong exposure to it. Feminism shows up on social media feed, ads on television, and in the movies I watch. With all of the media out there on the subject, it would have found its way to my brain in some form at some point in my lifetime. Feminism is not only a fight for the equal rights of women to men, but of every person as equal individuals. Women do not deserve special privileges, they deserve the rights that any other person has. By participating in social media activism, I have learned more about myself and how to voice my opinions and