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__NOTOC__[[File:800px-Mary Wollstonecraft by John Opie (c. 1797).jpg|thumb|left|250px|Figure 1. Mary Wollstonecraft arguably was one of the first modern writers advocating for feminist causes.]]While there is no clear consensus as to when 'first wave' feminism occurred, most accept that in the 19th century, as industrialization progressed, and new mass movement began, first wave 1st Wave feminism emerged. The term itself was only coined in 1968 by Martha Lear, who also coined the term second wave[[What was the Second Wave Feminist Movement?|Second Wave Feminism]]. There is also a [[What was the Third Wave Feminist Movement?|Third Wave Feminist Movement]] that began in the 1990s. First wave Wave feminism focused on what we now consider basic issues of inequality in light of more recent developments.

==What were the Origins of the First Wave FeminismFeminist Movement? ==Although feminism can be argued to have its roots in many ancient periods, modern feminism begins around the late 17th and 18th centuries, during the Enlightenment in Europe. One of the early feminists was Mary Wollstonecraft, who mostly wrote in the late 18th century (Figure 1). She was heavily influenced by Rousseau and French political thinkers who began to advocate that societies, and individuals specifically, should have rights that the state provides. Individual rights, separate from teaching from the church, began to become a key focus for philosophers during this period. Individual liberty, as argued, was to be upheld by the state. Similarly, English philosophers, such as John Locke living earlier, had taken up similar ideas.

Although feminism can be argued to have its roots with many ancient periods, modern feminism begins around the late 17th and 18th centuries, during the Enlightenment in Europe. One of the early feminists was Mary Wollstonecraft, who mostly wrote in the late 18th century (Figure 1). She was heavily influenced by Rousseau and French political thinkers who began to advocate that societies, and individuals specifically, should have rights that the state provides. Individual rights, separate from teaching from the church, began to become a key focus for philosophers during this period. Individual liberty, as argued, was to be upheld by the state. Similarly, English philosophers, such as John Locke living earlier, had taken up similar ideas. However, philosophers and writers often ignored women and Wollstonecraft was among the first to call for gender equality. She believed reason and education should be the foundation of social order that included equality for women. Her books (<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/019955546X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=019955546X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=f7ede341ed268d1f21573c5f2e2ef23d A Vindication of the Rights of Women]</i>, published in 1792, and <i>Maria, or the Wrongs of Women</i>,published in 1798, were controversial in their day but also demonstrated her ideas. She saw the lack of focus in educating women as making them appear less informed as men in society. Although we see her views as largely expected and normal today, for over a century her writings and influence were minimized or even avoided by later feminists due to the morals of the day. She had at least two highly publicized affairs that produced at least one child out of wedlock and was explicit about her sexuality. The focus on her behavior, rather than ideas, unfortunately , diminished her influence in the early 19th century as feminists ideas increasingly emerged.<ref>For more on Wollstonecraft, see: Taylor, B. (2003). <i>Mary Wollstonecraft and the feminist imagination</i>. Cambridge, U.K. ; New York: Cambridge University Press.</ref>

The 19th century also emerged as a period of emancipation for slaves, not only in the US, which == When was relatively late in freeing their slaves, but also in the UK, other European countries and in Birth of the AmericasSocial Reform Movement? ==[[File:Suffragettes-1921. This led to the emergence of women rights movements, who had often campaigned jpg|thumb|left|300px|Figure 2. The suffrage movement and suffragettes helped create momentum for the freeing of slaves, right to develop their own political thoughts and ideas about what emancipation really meantvote for women. ]]In the United States, mid-early 19th century women emerged advocating emancipation for slaves , temperance, and greater freedom for women comparable compared to men. These two issues began to be seen, at least by some women and advocates, as being interrelatedcampaigns were a direct outgrowth of the [[What was the Second Wave Feminist Movement? | Second Great Awakening]]. The Seneca Convention, Second Great Awakening in 1844, the United States (1790-1830) was the first organized convention to discuss social, civil, and a religious condition and rights of women. This was led by Quakers, who were also leading abolitionist. Prominent women revival that began to emerge from this convention and its later offshoots included Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Matilda Joslyn Gage, and, among the most well know, Susan Brownell Anthony. Interestingly, many early congresses calling for the emancipation of slaves often shunned women or gave them secondary roles. One key obstacle was many had interpreted their faith not only brought in new converts to stand against slaveryChristianity, but at the same time they saw or interpreted that God created the sexes differently. In effect, women were not equals to men it inspired female reformers in terms of rights. This contradiction, therefore, became an obstacle for early feminists working within the abolitionist movementsUnited States.<ref>For early 19th century feminists and the Seneca Convention, see: Roediger, D. R., Blatt, M. H., & Lowell Conference on Industrial History (Eds.). (1999). <i>The Meaning of slavery in the North</i>. New York: Garland Pub.</ref>

[[File:800px-Mary Wollstonecraft by John Opie (cThe leaders of this Christian movement argued that people had control over their lives and salvation in opposition to views of the existing Calvinist churches. 1797)As part of this movement, women were encouraged to build new churches and push for moral reforms in the United States.jpg|thumb|Figure 1. Mary Wollstonecraft arguably was one Fairly quickly women became moral advocates, while most women joined the Temperance Movement others were attracted to the abolition of the first modern writers advocating slavery and expanding rights for feminist causeswomen.]]

Elizabeth Stanton and Susan AnthonyThe Seneca Convention, after the Civil War and in 18681844, began to focus on creating a platform for women to rally around. They created a newspaper called <i>The Revolution</i>. This helped to rally support to what they saw was one of the first great obstacles organized convention to greater freedom, which was discuss the right to vote. In effectsocial, this helped to launch the suffrage movement in the United States. Other countries alsocivil, at about the same time or even earlier in some cases, began to have women organizations calling for greater female and religious condition and rights and literature advocating voting for of women. This included Scottish Marion Reidwas led by Quakers, who collaborated with American feminists and were also leading abolitionists. Prominent women that began to see that greater interest in the ideals of a virtuous woman in Victorian Britain creating a repressive standard for womenemerge from this convention and its later offshoots included [https://www.amazon.<com/gp/product/0393317080/ref>For more on Stanton and Anthony=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0393317080&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a19ced3df0656bae40f785aceaf1aa85 Sojourner Truth], see: Elizabeth Stanton, E. C.Lucretia Mott, GordonMatilda Joslyn Gage, A. D.and, & Anthonyamong the most well know, S. B. (1997). <i>The selected papers of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Brownell Anthony</i>. New BrunswickInterestingly, Nmany early congresses calling for the emancipation of slaves often shunned women or gave them secondary roles.J: Rutgers University Press.</ref>

While some women, such as Barbara Leigh Smith, focused on employment and education for women as One key areas obstacle was many had interpreted their faith to focus onstand against slavery, but at the same time, others they saw other goals as more of a key focus. Increasingly, more feminists began to see or interpreted that obtaining voting rights was perhaps among God created the most important steps before other rights could be obtainedsexes differently. Throughout the 19th centuryIn effect, Biblical interpretation of women's role in the house and family prevented their ability were not equals to advance feminist ideals. To counteract the power of the church's or some religious interpretation of sex-based hierarchy, Stanton produced an influential work called <i>The Woman's Bible</i>, written in 1895. Although it was much maligned by Biblical scholars, Stanton tried to argue for equality using the Biblemen concerning rights. This helped to provide some religious justificationcontradiction, at least for some, for emerging feminism in the period. Furthermore, the National Woman Suffrage Association, already established by 1869therefore, became a prominent organizations advocating for woman suffrage, which took more radical approaches, such as rejecting the 15th Amendment unless it included woman suffrage. The other major movement was American Woman Suffrage Association, which advocated an obstacle for state by stat campaigning to achieve suffrage. There was a wide split among early feminists regarding working within the approach. However, in the late 19th century it became clear that having rival groups weakened the suffrage movement. In 1890, the two groups merged and formed the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)abolitionist movements.<ref>For more on emerging suffrage movements in the late early 19th centuryfeminists and the Seneca Convention, see: TetraultRoediger, D. R., Blatt, LM. H., & Lowell Conference on Industrial History (Eds.). (20141999). <i>The myth Meaning of Seneca Falls: memory and slavery in the women’s suffrage movement, 1848-1898North</i>. Chapel HillNew York: The University of North Carolina PressGarland Pub.</ref>

In 1869, John Allen CampbellElizabeth Stanton and Susan Anthony, after the first Governor of the WyomingCivil War and in 1868, granted women the right began to vote, making Wyoming the first territory or state focus on creating a platform for women had specific laws that expressed their rights to voterally around. They created a newspaper called <i>The National Woman's Party emerged in 1916 as another suffrage organization, which broke from the NAWSA, which had focused only on states rather than any federal lawsRevolution</i>. They held high profile protests in front of the White House during World War I, as This publication helped to rally support for what they saw targeting was one of the federal government as the most expedient way first great obstacles to gain greater freedom, which was the right to vote. Although their protests were often ignoredIn effect, arguably effort by women during the war, mostly in replacing men in factories, helped many to see that women did have equal skills to men. This this helped to persuade, along with launch the feminist organisations, many in congress that women should have the right to vote. Congress passed the 19th Amendment in 1919 and enough states ratified the amendment by 1920, making the right for women to vote legal suffrage movement in the United States in 1920. While Other countries also, at about the process itself was contentious, often with hunger strikes and same time or even mob violence, sometime by both sides earlier in the argumentsome cases, there continued began to be problems in the 1920s. Some regions tried to argue the 19th Amendment was unconstitutional have women organizations calling for greater female rights and tried to bar literature advocating voting for women from holding office or voting. NeverthelessThis movement included Scottish activist Marion Reid, who collaborated with American feminists and began to see that greater interest in the gradual acceptance ideals of women as voters, what can be considered the First Wave of feminism had culminated a virtuous woman in achieving Victorian Britain creating a major success repressive standard for women (Figure 2).<ref>For more on the late 19th century Stanton and early 20th century path for women in gaining the right to voteAnthony, see: Smith Stanton, KE. MC., Gordon, A. D., & Anthony, S. B. (19941997). <i>New paths to power: American women, 1890-1920The selected papers of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony</i> . New YorkBrunswick, N.J: Oxford Rutgers University Press. </ref>

[[File:Suffragettes-1921While some women, such as Barbara Leigh Smith, focused on employment and education for women as critical areas to focus on, others saw other goals as more of a key focus. Increasingly, more feminists began to see that obtaining voting rights was perhaps among the most important steps before other rights could be secured.jpg|thumb|Figure 2Throughout the 19th century, Biblical interpretation of women's role in the house and family prevented their ability to advance feminist ideals. To counteract the power of the church's or some religious interpretation of sex-based hierarchy, Stanton produced an influential work called <i>The suffrage movement and suffragettes helped create momentum Woman's Bible</i>, written in 1895. Although it was much maligned by Biblical scholars, Stanton tried to argue for equality using the right Bible. This helped to vote provide some religious justification, at least for some, for womenemerging feminism in the period.]]

==First Wave Around Furthermore, the World==National Woman Suffrage Association, already established by 1869, became a prominent organization advocating for woman suffrage, which took more radical approaches, such as rejecting the 15th Amendment unless it included woman suffrage. The other significant movement was American Woman Suffrage Association, which advocated for state by stat campaigning to achieve suffrage. There was a full split among feminists regarding the approach. However, in the late 19th century it became clear that having rival groups weakened the suffrage movement. In 1890, the two groups merged and formed the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).<ref>For more on emerging suffrage movements in the late 19th century, see: Tetrault, L. (2014). <i>The myth of Seneca Falls: memory and the women’s suffrage movement, 1848-1898</i>. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.</ref>

While there has been much focus on feminists in the United States, feminists movements had also developed in various periods, most notably after the 18th century, in many countries. Southern Australia was among the first places women could vote, where in 1895 the right to vote was achieved by women there. Catherine Spence was a prominent figure who had campaigned for the vote.<ref>For more on Australia's struggle for the right to vote for women, see: Oldfield, A. (1992). <i>Woman suffrage in Australia: a gift or a struggle</i>? Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press. <dh-ad/ref>

In Denmark1869, they John Allen Campbell, the first Governor of Wyoming, granted women the right to vote, making Wyoming the first territory or state women had already achieved not only voting rights but equal rights specific laws that protected a womanexpressed their rights to vote. The National Woman's access to educationParty emerged in 1916 as another suffrage organization, work and marital rights during which broke from the 1920s. In effectNAWSA, they which had begun to move to topics that focused only were more fully addressed by second wave feminists on states rather than any federal laws. They held high profile protests in other countries by front of the 1960s. In IranWhite House during World War I, at as they saw targeting the time of federal government as the Seneca Falls convention, in 1848, a religious movement, called Babism, represented a view that God wanted women most expedient way to be equal to men and had been among gain the earliest religious movements in the Islamic regions of the Middle East right to advocate the removal of veils and greater freedom for womenvote. The movement helped eventually start BahaismAlthough their protests were often ignored, a religious idea that sought unity among many religions and also advocated greater roles and equality for arguably effort by women. Although these movements have largely been suppressedduring the war, it helped to launch or influence feminist ideas mostly in replacing men in non-Western regions. In Russia and Chinafactories, the rise of socialist and eventually Communism helped many to create greater feminist equality. Although see that women did gain the right to vote and were considered have equal skills to men in Soviet society, at least by party ideals. This helped to persuade, voting was restricted to along with the Communist party. Womenfeminist organizations, however, gained rights many in other areas Congress that Western women could only dream about for many decades. This included generous maternity leave, free childcare, abortion rights, and generally had greater access to higher education. Some of these should have yet the right to be achieved in the West. However, by the later half of the 20th century, women did not make as much gains in holding political power or even high-level job roles in the Soviet Union.<ref>For more on these feminist movements, see: Boles, J. K., & Hoeveler, D. L. (2004). <i>Historical dictionary of feminism</i> (2nd ed). Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Pressvote.</ref>

In Congress passed the UK19th Amendment in 1919, women gained and enough states ratified the amendment by 1920, making the right for women to vote legal in 1918, although their rights were not fully equal to men until 1928. The suffragettes were often notorious for their militancy the United States in trying to achieve their goals1920. Perhaps While the most prominent agitator process itself was Sylvia Pankhurstcontentious, a famous socialist who helped campaign for women equality often with hunger strikes and many other causes she considered part of social injustice. By even mob violence, sometimes by both sides in the 1910sargument, society there continued to be problems in the UK had also increasingly saw that it was natural 1920s. Some regions tried to have women be given argue the right 19th Amendment was unconstitutional and tried to vote. The UK also had other restrictive laws, such as prohibition from wealthy bar women from controlling their propertyholding office or voting. Nevertheless, that were not fully removed until with the late 1890s. In the 1850sgradual acceptance of women as voters, divorce became an issue that was moved to what can be considered the civil courts rather than requiring the Church to be responsible First Wave of feminism had culminated in achieving a major success forwomen (Figure 2).<ref>For more on the suffragettes late 19th century and suffrage movement early 20th-century path for women in gaining the UKright to vote, see: PankhurstSmith, EK. SM. (20151994). <i>SUFFRAGETTENew paths to power: the history of the women’s militant suffrage movementAmerican women, 1890-1920</i>. Dover Children'sNew York: Oxford University Press.</ref>

==Later SignificanceWhy was First Wave Movement a World Movement? ==While there has been much focus on feminists in the United States, feminists movements had also developed in various periods, most notably after the 18th century, in many countries. Southern Australia was among the first places women could vote, wherein in 1895 the right to vote was achieved by women there. Catherine Spence was a prominent figure who had campaigned for the vote.<ref>For more on Australia's struggle for the right to vote for women, see: Oldfield, A. (1992). <i>Woman suffrage in Australia: a gift or a struggle</i>? Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press. </ref>

First wave feminism was instrumental in giving women basic In Denmark, they had already achieved not only voting rights but equal rights such as laws that protected a woman's access to vote and even administer their own property. World War II and recovery period that saw men retaking many of their old jobeducation, in some wayswork, slowed down and marital rights during the feminist movement1920s. HoweverIn effect, by the 1960s the political climate in the West began they had begun to move to change and accept topics that only were more liberal ideals. While first fully addressed by second-wave feminists achieved their key goals, it was evident in other countries such as by the 1960s. In Iran, at the UK and time of the US Seneca Falls convention, in 1848, a religious movement, called Babism, represented a view that equality in voting did not translate God wanted women to be equal to equality men and had been among the earliest religious movements in the workplace or aspects Islamic regions of social acceptance such as marriage. Communist states emerged as early countries that embraced more equality, but in the West this took time as social norms began Middle East to change in advocate the context removal of major wars veils and increasingly greater roles freedom for women played in society. The movement helped eventually start Bahaism, both in a civil religious idea that sought unity among many religions and also advocated greater roles and political sense. Nevertheless, the key foundation equality for second wave feminism required the rights earned by first wave feminists, mainly in giving women political power through the vote.

==Summary==First wave feminism was critical Although these movements have largely been suppressed, it helped to launch or influence feminist ideas in non-Western regions. In Russia and China, the late 19th rise of socialist and early 20th centuries in giving eventually Communism helped to create greater feminist equality. Although women did gain the right to vote and basic rights such as were considered equal to men in propertySoviet society, at least by party ideals, voting was restricted to the Communist party. While the roots of this feminism is not clearWomen, however, new movements from the Enlightenment and industrialization began to focus on female gained rights and individualityin other areas that Western women could only dream about for many decades. The 19th century was a time where people questioned basic This included generous maternity leave, free childcare, abortion rights , and who generally had greater access to themhigher education. It emerged that both sexes, as well as different races, should Some of these have basic given rights such as emancipation, rights yet to vote, and rights to own propertybe achieved in the West. However, even though by the battles for equality continued into later half of the 20th century. Achieving the right to vote was generally seen , women did not make as many gains in holding political power or even high-level job roles in the major achievement for first wave feministsSoviet Union.<ref>For more on these feminist movements, see: Boles, J. K., & Hoeveler, D. L. (2004). <i>Historical dictionary of feminism</i> (2nd ed). Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press.</ref>

In the UK, women gained the right to vote in 1918, although their rights were not fully equal to men until 1928. The suffragettes were often notorious for their militancy in trying to achieve their goals. Perhaps the most prominent agitator was Sylvia Pankhurst, a famous socialist who helped campaign for women equality and many other causes she considered part of social injustice. By the 1910s, society in the UK had also increasingly saw that it was natural to have women be given the right to vote. The UK also had other restrictive laws, such as prohibition from wealthy women from controlling their property, that was not fully removed until the late 1890s. In the 1850s, divorce became an issue that was moved to the civil courts rather than requiring the Church to be responsible for.<ref>For more on the suffragettes and suffrage movement in the UK, see: Pankhurst, E. S. (2015). <i>SUFFRAGETTE: the history of the women’s militant suffrage movement</i>. Dover Children's.</ref> == What was the Significance of the First Wave Feminist Movement? ==First wave feminism was instrumental in giving women basic rights such as to vote and even administer their property. World War II and the recovery period that saw men retaking many of their old jobs, in some ways, slowed down the feminist movement. However, by the 1960s the political climate in the West began to change and accept more liberal ideals. While first wave feminists achieved their key goals, it was evident in countries such as the UK and the US that equality in voting did not translate to equality in the workplace or aspects of social acceptance such as marriage.  Communist states emerged as early countries that embraced more equality, but in the West, this took time as social norms began to change in the context of major wars and increasingly greater roles women played in society, both in a civil and political sense. Nevertheless, the key foundation for second wave feminism required the rights earned by first wave feminists, mainly in giving women political power through the vote. == Summary ==First wave feminism was critical in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in giving women the right to vote and basic rights such as property. While the roots of this feminism are not clear, new movements from the Enlightenment and industrialization began to focus on female rights and individuality. The 19th century was a time where people questioned basic rights and who had access to them. It emerged that both sexes, as well as different races, should have basic given rights such as emancipation, rights to vote, and rights to own property, even though the battles for equality continued into the 20th century. Achieving the right to vote was generally seen as the major achievement for first-wave feminists. ====References====<references/> Updated December 9, 2020 [[Category:Wikis]][[Category:United States History]] [[Category:Women's History]][[Category:Feminist History]] [[Category:Civil Rights History]] [[Category:19th Century History]] [[Category: European History]]