History of feminism and feminist theory.

            

             The history of feminism and of feminist theory has many possible origins. However the most plausible explanation for the origins of feminism and of feminist theory can be connected with the desire for social and political reforms .

             It is therefore necessary to focus on these social and political reforms, by doing so it becomes possible to highlight the evolution of feminism ( as a form of ideology and a type of activism ). This evolution has not been without intense criticism, the most important critique of all feminist ideology states that due to the origins of feminism it is not an all encompassing political and social movement . Instead however to is an exclusive conservative white suburban theory , that blatantly excludes "minority" groups, such as black women, lesbians and the lower working class. .

             If the primary goal of the feminist movement is to unite women in order to change a woman"s position in society, then surely this goal would fail if "minority" groups are excluded To answer this question it is of fundamental importance to understand the origins of the feminist movement and hence the rise of feminist theory.

             The feminist movement is primarily categorised into two different periods of time. The first period is known as " First wave Feminism " and occurred from 1760-1935. Within this stage there are five distinct time periods, with each time period playing an important role in the feminist movement. The origins of first wave feminism, especially in the US has often been traced to the abolitionist movement.

             The second period of the feminist movement , similarly to first wave feminism is that of " Second wave Feminism ". Second wave feminism began approximately in 1963 (in the US) , with radical changes occurring in 1970 and continuing into the present. The history of second wave feminism has its origins in the civil rights movements.