Third Wave Feminism

The Third Wave, as espoused by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards in this book, is not just a continuation of the Second Wave (the generation of the mothers of Third Wavers), but a new direction for feminism. The subtitle of the book is ôYoung women, feminism and the future,ö and Baumgardner and Richards as Third Wavers want to speak for themselves; they donÆt want the older generation to act as their spokesperson. Our generation of feminists, they assert, ôwants its own institutions and a right to its own attitudes and interpretationsö (138). The authors acknowledge, however, that Third Wave feminismÆs contribution to womenÆs history builds on the foundation of the Second Waveö (17).

The world of Third Wavers, however, is quite different from the world the First and Second Waves were born into since these younger women were born into freedom. Funds for equal opportunity for female sports in schools under Title

. . .
nÆs book is that a womanÆs greatest worth was in her role as housewife-mother, and this insinuated that all women are satisfied by sexual passivity, male domination and maternal love. Friedan, however, recognized the lack of self-fulfillment in many women who took on this society-imposed role. NOW supported womenÆs full participation in the mainstream of American society, exercising all the privileges and responsibilities formerly given only to men. The organization also advocated the removal of sexual discrimination, as well as the unfair financial burdens placed on men in the traditional family arrangement, indicating that their purpose went beyond womenÆs rights and was based on social reform. NOW also believed that women should have the opportunity to develop as complete human beings, and supported the full education of girls as well as boys and the full participation in the political process in adulthood. As stated above, the women of the Third Wave were born into a time of nearly full participation for women, perhaps not to be nominated as President but women were beginning to break through the glass ceiling in the job market. What then, is a Third Wave feminist to do when so many feminist issues are no longer issues?
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Third Wave, Wave Manifesta, Third Wavers, Organization Women, Baumgardner Richards, Suffrage Movement, Declaration Sentiments, Title IX, Amendment Constitutional, third wave, Rights Amendment, third wavers, baumgardner richards, item calls, third wave feminism, goal equality, choice women, generation feminists, speak themselves, richards third, baumgardner richards third, equal rights amendment, equal access,
Approximate Word count = 1409
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Third Wave Feminism