Feminist Theory and Resources

Historically, the movement surrounding feminist freedom has two phases. The first one happened in the 1860s, and the movement lasted until the 1920s. It was during this period when women were given the right of suffrage or the right to vote. This right was ratified in the United States through the Nineteenth Amendment.

The other phase started 40 years later and had not stopped until today. The second wave of the feminist movement has something to do with the right to education, equal opportunities for employment. Today, the approach to feminism does not only rely on invoking emotions, but it is more educated, sparking studies in the scientific community.

Feminism is a principle where all the philosophies in advancing the female gender are taken into account. It is a movement that seeks equality between the genders, and it also seeks to fill the gaps that will help put women at the same status as me in science, arts, literature, politics, and all facets of life. Today, it has branched out in many groups, with each one still tracing its roots in the original or the second wave of the movement.

The first woman who received the label "feminist" is Margaret Brent. She wanted to vote and asked it to be her right, but she was denied. It was this denial that sparked a revolution until women received the right to vote on August 26, 1920, in the U.S. Today, the revolution is still going on, as there are many parts of the world where women are not getting equal treatment with men.

This inequality exists in the workplace, the community, the society, on the internet, in show business, and politics. The goal of feminism to keep on fighting got equality on all these fronts, and make sure that all women are given an equal opportunity for respect and success in life.

There are different types of feminism, like liberal feminism, black feminism, Marxist-feminism, and much more. Various reading materials are available to advance the particular interests and philosophies of each group. Below are some valuable resources that you can use.

Feminist Theory – here is a valuable resource that will help you understand the different branches of feminism. Here, you will be introduced to concepts like individualist, libertarian, material, eco, and other forms of feminism.

Berkeley Feminism – this site is a page that takes you to the heart of equality and inclusion. It is an organization in the Berkeley campus where you can learn more about the Feminist Majority Foundation or FMF.

The Real Enemy of Feminism – here is a page that will help you understand some enemies that the movement is facing. It is an article that exposes many situations which one would normally think has been addressed already.

Different Strands of Feminism – here is a book that you can download on your phone. It talks about the different branches of feminism. It also puts into perspective the underlying causes of fighting for gender equality. The definitions are brief but will give you an idea of how the branches of feminism differ from one another.

Different Kinds of Feminism – this site shows the reader the many forms of feminist movements. It briefly explains the variation between the types of these groupings and what their underlying philosophies are.

Approaches to Feminism – this resource from Stanford takes the reader back to the movement's grassroots back in the 1950s. It is a little historical in nature, but the reader will understand what the early fighters of feminism went through, and compare that to the fight happening today.

Radical Feminism – this is a movement where the members oppose political and social organizations that have something to do with patriarchy. Visit this website to understand more about the skepticism that surrounds this movement.

The Role of Men in the Feminist Movement – if you think men should not be involved with the movement, think again. This article elaborates on the philosophy that men are equally responsible for feminism as much as women are.

The Limitations of Feminism – this article seeks to answer questions like why is it that it is men that rape. It digs deep into the insecurities of men, the health and income power play, and more. It is an approach to answer underlying psychological impulses that no one can seemingly explain.

The Socialist Feminist – this is a branch of feminism that compares the oppression of women with other societal oppression. It shows you the history of the movement and the socialist basis of the movement. It discusses the principles of this branch of feminism and will provide you with an understanding of its goals.

Socialist Feminism Compared to Others – this webpage will help you understand the key differences of socialist feminism against its counterparts like the liberal, radical, cultural, and others. The difference might be subtle, but you will observe that it is more political in nature than philosophical.

Socialist Feminism Under the Light – here is an overview of how socialist feminism is defined. This site provides the reader with an overview as to how it came to be and what it is fighting for.

Marxism and Feminism – read this site to understand how Marxism works. It elaborates how socialism is tied up with the first wave of the feminist movement.

Current Feminist Writers – check this page to see a list of current writers about feminism from the New York Times. You will also find links to their works like published books and essays.

Material and Marxist Feminism – this is an introduction to two forms of feminism. It is a lengthy history of how these two branches of the movement came to be.

Chandra Mohanty – here is a resource that introduces you to a prominent professor, and her works about feminism. This site has links to her books, which you can buy and download.

History of Black Feminism – this is a history of the movement that gave birth to black feminism. It discusses the sexual and abuse and racism that they had to go through, and how the Liberation Movement began.

Womanist Theology – this is a resource where you can purchase a book about various womanist movements, especially dealing with black theology.

Black Feminism Institute of Studies – this page introduces you to the Black Feminism studies in Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. You can research this page for the faculty, staff, and manuals.

EcoFeminism – this page takes you to a place where you are introduced to this movement. It lets you see its origin, motivations, and definitions.

Radical Feminism – here is an introduction to help you understand how this movement differs from the other types of feminism. It shows an overview of what it is and the criticisms it has received from pundits.

Anti-Slavery and 19th Century Feminism – here is a study that shows you how things were back in the 19th century. It tells the reader the conditions back then and how feminism helped in anti-slavery movements.

Lesbian Feminism – here is an overview about what this type of feminism is about. It provides historical background to the group and the principles upheld by its proponents.

Lesbian Separatism – here is an article that explores not only this subset of feminism but also that of Queer Theory and Radical Feminism.

Simone de Beauvoir – she is a political activist who wrote the book The Second Sex back in 1949.

Eleanor Roosevelt – she was an American First Lady who worked with organizations such as the Women's Trade Union League. She wrote a column called My Day from 1935 to 1962. In this newspaper column, she wrote about issues that surround equality, work, and rights.

Marlene Dietrich – she is an icon who introduced wearing pants. At her time, a woman wearing man's clothing was taboo. It was an outrage. But she continued on, despite being arrested, and now, women can enjoy the same wearing pants as men.

Betty Friedan – she is a writer who published the book The Feminist Mystique back in 1963. Betty takes the credit for jumpstarting the second wave of feminism back in the 1960s.

Gloria Steinem – she is considered to be the Mother of Feminism. She co-founded several feminist groups and paved the way for new ones to emerge.

Angela Davis – she is an African-American who is a key figure in starting the Black Power Movement. For over six decades, she was active on the political spectrum of feminism.

Coretta Scott King – was married to Martin Luther King Jr. and worked with Civil Rights and women's equality movements.

Lilith Magazine – an independent publication that caters to both feminist and Jewish rights. It focuses on the lives of Jewish women, their lifestyle, rituals, and interviews.

Equal Time Magazine – this magazine is a resource that is published by Syracuse University. It is a feminist magazine founded in 1981. The magazine covers all facets of feminism including fashion, health and fitness, beauty, politics, and culture.

FEM News Magazine – published in UCLA, it features feminists and their achievements. The magazine is online, and it published a myriad of articles that aim to educate and incite interest among women. It highlights the successes of women and sparks debates about feminist theories.

GUTS Magazine – this is a Canadian resource that operates because of volunteers. It is a bi-annual magazine where one can find literature about feminism. It not only includes fiction but also interviews with notable characters in the movement.

Jezebel - a website that not only covers topics about women but also technology and political issues.

Shameless Magazine – this is another magazine from Canada. It offers information for the trans youth and is focused on the lives of young people. It covers culture, current events, diet tips, and more.

Feminism comes in many forms. But the one thing in common among all of them is that they all aim to advance the interests and the rights of women across the world. Many subsets came to being only because the founders wanted to put specific focus on an underlying issue, like being an African America, being a lesbian, or being a teen.