The First Wave: Navigating the Tides of Feminism Through History

The history of feminism encompasses a dynamic social discourse where women’s resilience, determination, and pursuit of equality shine. Over the years, feminism has evolved in response to changing social, political, and cultural landscapes.

This 4-part blog series will take you through the different waves of feminism, exploring the challenges, triumphs, and transformative moments that have shaped the movement.

First Wave Feminism (Late 19th to early 20th century):

The first wave of feminism emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily focusing on legal issues, particularly women’s suffrage. Women like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton led the charge, advocating for the right to vote and challenging societal norms that confined women to domestic roles. The first wave laid the foundation for future feminist movements, securing women’s basic rights in the public sphere.

Prominent Leaders and Their Legacies

Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)

Susan B. Anthony stood at the forefront of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States, playing a pivotal role in securing the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Her approach of challenging voting laws through legal action set a powerful example of civil disobedience and legal challenge that would inspire future movements for social change.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a leading thinker and advocate in the early feminist movement. Her significant contributions included organizing the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 and drafting the Declaration of Sentiments, which served as a bold call to action for women’s rights, including suffrage, property rights, and legal equality. Stanton’s work extended to a wide range of issues affecting women, from parental and custody rights to divorce laws and birth control, thereby expanding the feminist agenda.

Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928)

As the founder of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK, Emmeline Pankhurst became known for her use of militant tactics in the suffragette movement, including hunger strikes and civil disobedience. Her leadership brought global attention to the suffrage cause, showcasing the effectiveness of direct action in driving social and political change.

Sojourner Truth (c.1797–1883)

Sojourner Truth, an African American abolitionist and women’s rights activist, is renowned for her speech “Ain’t I a Woman?”, delivered at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in 1851. Truth’s advocacy underscored the intersections of racial and gender injustices, paving the way for an inclusive feminism that recognizes the diverse experiences and rights of all women.

Lucretia Mott (1793–1880)

Lucretia Mott was a prominent social reformer engaged in both the abolitionist movement and the fight for women’s rights. Her activism, deeply rooted in her Quaker beliefs in equality and nonviolence, included co-organizing the Seneca Falls Convention with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, kickstarting the organized women’s rights movement in the United States.

Through their diverse strategies, ranging from legal challenges to grassroots organizing and powerful speeches, these pioneering women of the first wave of feminism tackled institutional barriers to women’s equality. Their enduring legacy lies not only in the rights and freedoms that women enjoy today but also in the ongoing inspiration they provide for continued advocacy for equality and justice worldwide.

In this together,

The Every Woman is Worthy Team

Shop Sale Items That Give Back to Women in Need