19th Century Feminist MovementsLinks to an external site.
Links to an external site.Early to Late 20th Century Feminist MovementsLinks to an external site.

Notes:
Waves Metaphor of Feminist History
If you have ever been involved in a discussion on feminist history, chances are you have heard these histories discussed as waves. Feminism is often described  in terms of a first, second, third and/or fourth wave referring to specific historical moments in which feminist resistance and the fight for equal rights have risen like a wave in an ocean before crashing down. While it helps organize how we think of the history of major feminist goals, this metaphor has also been critiqued for being a bit incomplete and thus problematic. The reality is that these fights for equality do not stop “between” waves. Instead the movements inform and support each other and often provide critique in order to expand and strengthen these efforts. The “waves” also tend to focus on narrow segments of gender and feminist movement, centered on the needs and actions of white, middle and upper class women without as much consideration for abolitionist, Civil Rights, and queer movements. Because they are still so commonly discussed, it is helpful to know the “waves” while remaining critical.
First Wave- Citizenship