Third-wave Feminism

There are several diverse sprains in the study and the activity of the feminist which has been identified in the third-wave feminism. The boundaries of the historiography of feminism are on being debated for a long time. Third-wave feminism came into existence as a response to the failures and the backlashes in the movement that is created in the second-wave feminism. The main thing that is discussed in the third wave feminism is that the contradictions and the attempts in accommodating the change and the diversity. The notions, which prevail through the 1960s and the 1970s, state that the women are of many religions, colors, cultural backgrounds, and ethnicities.

Impact of other theories

In particular, the second wave’s definition about femininity which has over-stressed the experiences that the upper-middle class white women is being challenged by the third-wave feminism. In addition to it, the interpretation of the gender and the sexuality by the post-structuralism has been the basis to the ideology of the third wave. The elements of the anti-racism and the queer theory are incorporated in the third-wave theory. Other theories and concepts like the critical theory, the post-colonial theory, the transnationalism, postmodernism, and libertarian feminism have great impact in this theory. This theory is also marked with the celebration of sexuality and sex-positivity with some broader definitions. It celebrates sex as a positive aspect of life. It also explores what empowerment and the oppression may entail in the sexual context.

Second Wave Vs Third Wave Feminism

Elle Green is one of the third-wave feminists who often focused on “micro politics”. She challenged the pattern of the second wave discussing what is good and poor for women. The main appeal that the proponents of the third wave feminism makes is,  it allows feminism to integrate the ideas their own belief and identities on what feminism is already and what it can attain through perspective of an individual. According to Amy Richards and Jennifer Baumgardner, feminism tends to change with every individual and with every generation. They quoted

"The fact that feminism is no longer limited to arenas where we expect to see it—NOW, Ms., women's studies, and red suited Congresswomen—perhaps means that young women today have really reaped what feminism has sown”

Of the activism and the agenda of the third wave feminism, the reproductive right has been one of the primary concerns. Richards and Baumgardner say “It is not feminism's goal to control any woman's fertility, only to free each woman to control her own". Third-wave feminism also dealt with some other issues like social class, race and sexuality.

Questions:

• When Third Wave Feminism came into existence?
• Who Quoted as Feminism will tend to vary with every individual?