The Life and Accomplishments of American Feminism

Abstract

This study seeks to concisely discuss the history and achievements of the Feminist or Women’s Rights Movement in the United States. The author first discusses the history of feminism as both a socio-political movement and a theoretical approach. A discussion of the three waves of feminism shows that feminism has steadily changed over time along with the society with which it interacts. Next, the author examines the place of women in the workforce during the Industrial Revolution and World War II to determine whether work was understood as a means for reaching gender equality or simply as a necessity. It is argued that during these eras work was a necessity, but following World War II, work increasingly became a means to form a sense of independence and self-worth not found elsewhere. A final section creates a curriculum with which to teach the history of feminism in the United States. This curriculum will assist instructors in their teaching of the feminist movement and feminism’s place in American history more broadly.