Third-wave feminism

Quick Facts: Who was Third-wave feminism?

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Third-wave feminism

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A feminist movement (1990s–2010s) emphasizing diversity, intersectionality, and individualism.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Third-wave feminism is a feminist movement that began in the early 1990s; it was prominent in the decades prior to the fourth wave. Grounded in the civil-rights advances of the second wave, Gen X third-wave feminists born in the 1960s and 1970s embraced diversity and individualism in women, and sought to redefine what it meant to be a feminist. The third wave saw the emergence of new feminist currents and theories, such as intersectionality, sex positivity, vegetarian ecofeminism, transfeminism, and postmodern feminism. According to feminist scholar Elizabeth Evans, the "confusion surrounding what constitutes third-wave feminism is in some respects its defining feature." The third wave is traced to Anita Hill's televised testimony in 1991 to an all-male all-white Senate Judiciary Committee that the judge Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her. The term third wave is credited to Rebecca Walker, who responded to Thomas' appointment to the Supreme Court with an article in Ms. magazine, "Becoming the Third Wave" (1992).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She wrote: So I write this as a plea to all women, especially women of my generation: Let Thomas' confirmation serve to remind you, as it did me, that the fight is far from over. Let this dismissal of a woman's experience move you to anger. Turn that outrage into political power. Do not vote for them unless they work for us. Do not have sex with them, do not break bread with them, do not nurture them if they don't prioritize our freedom to control our bodies and our lives.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

I am not a post-feminism feminist. Walker sought to establish that third-wave feminism was not just a reaction but a movement in itself because the feminist cause had more work ahead. The term intersectionality to describe the idea that women experience "layers of oppression" caused, for example, by gender, race, and class had been introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, and it was during the third wave that the concept flourished. In addition, third-wave feminism is traced to the emergence of the riot grrrl feminist punk subculture in Olympia, Washington, in the early 1990s. As feminists came online in the late 1990s and early 2000s and reached a global audience with blogs and e-zines, they broadened their goals, focusing on abolishing gender-role stereotypes and expanding feminism to include women with diverse racial and cultural identities.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1989: 1989 Milestone — The term intersectionality to describe the idea that women experience "layers of oppression" caused, for example, by gender, race, and class had been introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, and it was during the third wave that the concept flourished.
2. 1991: 1991 Milestone — " The third wave is traced to Anita Hill's televised testimony in 1991 to an all-male all-white Senate Judiciary Committee that the judge Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her.
3. 1992: 1992 Milestone — magazine, "Becoming the Third Wave" (1992).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Third-wave feminism

True or False: “The concept of intersectionality, which describes overlapping systems of oppression, was first introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw during the third wave.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Kimberlé Crenshaw introduced the term intersectionality in 1989, predating the peak visibility of the third-wave movement.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abby Stein — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
• Abhay Jodhpurkar — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Indian singer known for songs in multiple South Indian languages and Bollywood hits.
• 21 Savage — Historical peer (Born in 1992) (1992): Atlanta-based rapper known for his distinctive style and career evolution.
• 6lack — Historical peer (Born in 1992) (1992): American R&B singer, songwriter, and rapper known professionally as 6lack.
• A. J. Ayer — Historical peer (Died in 1989) (1989): Influential English philosopher known for logical positivism and emotivism.
• Abbie Hoffman — Historical peer (Died in 1989) (1989): Iconic American activist, co-founder of the Yippies, and counterculture figure.

Frequently Asked Questions about Third-wave feminism