Conceptualising Feminism

This chapter traces the origins, evolution, and debate on both the concept and term feminism. It establishes that feminism comprises a number of social, cultural, and political movements; theories; and moral philosophies concerned with gender inequalities and equal rights for women. The chapter establishes that feminism is a generalised, wide-ranging system of ideas about social life and human experience developed from a woman-centred perspective. It focuses on the inequalities between men and women and the efforts to advance the social role of women. Feminism is believed to have passed through stages: the first wave, the second wave, and the third wave. The subsequent waves of feminism came as a response to the perceived weaknesses and failures of their predecessors. This introductory chapter gives an overview of both the concept and the term feminism. The chapter ends with a discussion on scientific research into feminist issues.