Third Wave Feminism - Has Anything Changed?

Feminism over the years has taken many different forms from it's original starting point in the 19th century. In the UK and US it focused on equal contract, marriage, parenting and property rights for women. In terms of feminism in the art world the 1960’s saw the resurgence of the women’s movement and is also referred to as ‘second-wave’ feminism. The work at this time discussed issues of gender equality and concerns within the art community. Its main goal was the attempted passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution, in which they were defeated by anti-feminists. In the 1970’s the main focus was dismantling workplace inequality, for example, the denial of better jobs and salary inequality. The 1980’s was an era of radical idealism in the arts, the feminist artists of the 1980’s focused more on psychoanalysis and less on the female experience. The 1990’s to 2000’s is termed ‘third-wave’ feminism and refers to several different threads of feminist activity and study. This movement arose out of the alleged failures of, and backlash against, actions and initiatives created by ‘second-wave’ feminism in the 1960’s to 1980’s for example to failure to implement the ERA and also the disregarding of many women’s voices.

Has anything changed in feminism over the years? The goals of the movement seem to have changed on the surface but the core issues that surround feminism still exist. Some jobs still do not give women equal pay and in several countries women don't have equal rights and are still treated as second class citizens. What seems to be common in recent years in terms of feminism is body concerns, concerns that women's bodies are constantly under scrutiny and are points of contention. Recent moves have been the lack of shaving bodily hair most notably the armpits (see image below) and a lot of protests against rape culture.

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