A History of Feminism: From Ancient Roots to Modern Waves

Introduction: Defining Feminism

The concept of feminism is not new, although it is often associated with the latter half of the twentieth century. Assuming this association to be the whole story, however, is an error. The aim of this paper is to examine the concept of feminism — first by defining what it is, and then by tracing how it developed and how it may be understood today.

Feminism refers to an ideology in which the position of women is advanced with the aim of gaining equality, meaning that women are able to secure the same rights as men (Offen, 1988). The concept of equality encompasses political, economic, and legal rights (Offen, 1988). The underlying premise is that women must also have equal access to resources such as education and healthcare, as well as equal opportunities in the workplace (Freedman, 2003; Offen, 1988).

While the movement and its ideas are most commonly associated with the second half of the twentieth century, there are many examples of early thinkers who supported the idea of equal rights. In some books these figures are referred to as "proto-feminists" (Freedman, 2003). By examining some of this history, the long road to the current status of feminism may be more fully appreciated.

Early and Proto-Feminist Thinkers

One of the earliest recorded calls for equal rights for women is found in the work of Plato (Baruch, 1988). Plato argued for both sexual and political equality for women, believing they were capable of playing important roles in ruling and in fighting (Baruch, 1988). Moving forward to the fourteenth century, Christine de Pizan wrote a work specifically denouncing misogyny and calling for equality. Originally written in French, the title translates as Epistle to the God of Love (de Beauvoir, 1989). Through the ages there have been numerous examples of individuals — both male and female — arguing for female equality.

The potential for equal rights for women became more prominent during the Enlightenment, when many philosophers examined the influences shaping society and questioned the role assigned to women within it.

Enlightenment Feminism and Mary Wollstonecraft

The philosopher Jeremy Bentham and the novelist Mary Wollstonecraft both expressed views that today would be classified as feminist (Freedman, 2003). Bentham stated that his decision to become a reformist was stimulated at the age of eleven, when he realized that women held an inferior position under the law (Williford, 1975). He argued that there should be total equality between the genders, including women's right to vote and to participate in government (Williford, 1975). Bentham also argued against the dual moral standards that applied differently to men and women (Williford, 1975). Furthermore, in his book Principles of Morals and Legislation, published in 1781, he introduced a number of arguments undermining the claim that women possessed inferior intellect (Williford, 1975).

In the context of feminism, it may be argued that Mary Wollstonecraft could be classified as the first feminist philosopher. In 1792 she published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, which is widely considered the first clearly feminist publication (Brody, 1983). In this work, Wollstonecraft wrote about the social factors that held women back and created inequality. She argued that the different treatment given to female children — including a less comprehensive education and different social expectations — continued to perpetuate inequality (Brody, 1983). Notably, she observed that the inferior position of women in society was not solely the fault of men, but also the fault of women who accepted their inferior position and thereby allowed the inequality to persist (Brody, 1983).

In the nineteenth century, despite opposition from society and even from Queen Victoria, more outspoken feminist views began to be expressed. In 1843, Marion Reid, a Scottish woman, published A Plea for Woman, which not only identified inequality but also called more openly for women's rights — specifically the right for women to vote (Crawford, 2006).

References

Baruch, Elaine Hoffman. (1988). Women in Men's Utopias. In R. Rohrlich & E. H. Baruch (Eds.), Women in Search of Utopia. New York: Oxford University Press.

Brody, Miriam. (1983). Mary Wollstonecraft: Sexuality and Women's Rights (1759–1797). In D. Spender (Ed.), Feminist Theorists: Three Centuries of Key Women Thinkers. Pantheon Books.

Crawford, Elizabeth. (2006). The Women's Suffrage Movement in Britain and Ireland: A Regional Survey. Taylor & Francis.

de Beauvoir, Simone. (1989). The Second Sex (English translation, originally 1949). Vintage Books.

Freedman, E. B. (2003). No Turning Back: The History of Feminism and the Future of Women. Ballantine Books.

LeGates, M. (2001). In Their Time: A History of Feminism in Western Society. Routledge.

Offen, Karen. (1988). Defining feminism: A comparative historical approach. Signs, 14(1), 119–157.

Williford, Miriam. (1975). Bentham on the rights of women. Journal of the History of Ideas, 36(1), 167–176.