The history of feminism which changed the lives of women and men
Nowadays, equal rights for men and women are legislated in most countries. The Constitution of the Russian Federation guarantees the equality of human and civil rights and freedoms regardless of gender, and it seems to us that this has always been the case.
But did you know that in early 20th century England a husband could sell his wife at a fair like a horse, putting a bridle around her neck, because she was considered his property? Women were for a very long time restricted in property rights, political rights, in the right to education, professional activities, even the upbringing of children. So it's not surprising that in the mid-19th century feminism - the movement for equality between women and men - emerged.
In this article you will learn how the feminist movement emerged and developed, how it changed the lives of not only women but also men, what types there are in feminism and why feminism still exists today.
The Birth of Feminism: The First Wave
Our longread begins with the facts about the first wave of feminism, the period of the movement's inception. Then you'll find information about the second wave, finishing the article with facts about modern feminism, i.e. the third wave.
Feminism emerged in the mid-19th century in Europe and North America. During the same time, the movement for equal rights for women also emerged in Russia. Although the situation varied from country to country, the common cause was still entry into the labor market for women and, hence, necessity to gain access to education and professional activity as well as to obtain a legal right to manage their own earnings.
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