Feminism is a social, political, and ideological movement that seeks to advance the rights and status of women.
It aims to challenge and dismantle systems of patriarchy and gender inequality by advocating for equal opportunities, rights, and representation for women in all areas of life, including political, economic, and social spheres.
Feminism also works towards challenging and changing societal norms and stereotypes that perpetuate discrimination and oppression of women. There are different branches and variations of feminism, each with its own specific goals and approaches, but the overarching goal is to achieve gender equality.
The movement’s origins can be traced back to the Enlightenment, with 1792 Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman being one of the first significant expressions.
The term is from the French féminisme, circa 1837, ultimately from the Latin fēminīnus, from fēmina (woman). First recorded in English in 1851, it originally meant “the state of being feminine.”
See more resources
Burkett, E. and Brunell, L. (2023, January 23). Feminism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/feminism
Oxford English Dictionary