Question

Which among the following statements are CORRECT for feminism?
(A) The ‘first wave’ of feminism was closely associated with the women’s suffrage movement, which emerged in the 1840s and 1850s.
(B) The ‘second wave’ of feminism arose during the 1960s and expressed, in addition to the established concern with equal rights, the more radical and sometimes revolutionary demands of the growing Women’s Liberation Movement.
(C) Feminist politics has fragmented and undergone a process of de-radicalisation since the early 1970s.
(D) Mary Wollstonecraft’s Women’s Estate is regarded as the first text of modern feminism.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, B and C only
• B. A, B and C only
• C. A, B, C and D
• D. B, C and D only

Hint:

Feminism has evolved through waves, each addressing different concerns, from legal equality to broader social issues like reproductive rights and identity.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the waves of feminism.
- First wave: Focused on women's suffrage and legal equality, particularly in the 19th century. - Second wave: Emerged in the 1960s, advocating for broader issues such as gender equality in the workplace, reproductive rights, and sexual freedom. It was more radical and revolutionary compared to the first wave. - Third wave and fragmentation: Feminism began to fragment into multiple streams, with debates on issues like intersectionality, race, and identity politics. This also led to de-radicalization. - Mary Wollstonecraft: Her book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) is often considered one of the foundational texts of modern feminism.
Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) The first wave of feminism was associated with suffrage movements in the 1840s and 1850s. This is correct. - (B) The second wave emerged in the 1960s with more radical demands, also correct. - (C) Feminist politics fragmented and de-radicalized after the 1970s, which is true. - (D) Mary Wollstonecraft’s Women’s Estate is considered a major text in feminist theory, but it is actually A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Thus, this statement is also correct.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (3) A, B, C and D.