Imagine a world where women and men share equal rights, their voices are heard, and their potential is fully realized. This is the vision of feminism, a movement that has been shaping society for centuries. While the term may be more familiar in recent decades, the ideas and concerns associated with feminism have been present throughout history.

The first known moment of feminism scales back to the late 18th century. However feminist philosophy emerged as a distinct field in the 19th and 20th centuries, building upon the foundations laid by earlier thinkers who challenged gender inequality. While the term "feminism" did not become widely used until the 1960s, the ideas and concerns that we now associate with feminism have been present for centuries.

The Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and various religious and philosophical moments inspired the earliest feminist moments. One of the earliest feminist thinkers in history includes Mary Wollstonecraft, who published "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" in 1792. Her Vindication of the Rights of Woman was written as a part of the response to the French Revolution.

Wollstonecraft argued that women were entitled to the same education and opportunities as men and that they were not inherently inferior to men. In her book, she addressed various issues related to women’s rights, education, and marriage. She argued that women must not be restricted to domestic roles and that they should be given the same opportunities as men. Her work had a significant impact on shaping feminist thought in the early times.

Furthermore, she strongly criticized the work of the French Philosopher Russo who argued that the purpose of women’s education should be restricted to pleasing their future husbands. She also equally condemned Dr. Gregory, a Scottish Moralist who taught that women should love pretty dresses and deny their natural strength to gain their husband’s affection. She believed that women needed to live as intellectual and virtuous adults instead of children that society taught them to be.

However, she did not condemn the gender roles in society. She was content with men and women playing their roles if women were no longer denied their right to education. She argued that she did not want women to act just like men, but instead that women should be treated like the individuals they are and have an equal standing in society.

Her ideology was strongly rejected in her time by the male leadership in her society. But her work inspired the foundation for feminists from later generations like Simone de Beauvoir, Betty Friedan, and many others from the Suffragist movement. While her work did not immediately lead to a significant societal change, it served as a powerful blueprint for future feminists, molding modern feminism as it is today.

The feminist movement has significantly evolved since Mary Wollstonecraft’s time. It has slowly evolved into four waves of feminism from 1848 till the present day, fighting for more diverse issues like reproductive rights, equal pay, and challenging traditional gender roles. While significant progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to achieve a truly equitable society.

Author: K. Geetha Sahithi