STILL I RISE: GENDER VIOLENCE BEFORE OUR EYES

Feminism has unfolded in distinct waves, each emerging from the social, political, and cultural pressures of its time while maintaining a persistent commitment to gender equality. The origins of the movement in the United States can be traced to 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention, where Elizabeth Cady Stanton presented her Declaration of Sentiments, a document that laid bare the legal and social inequities imposed on women. Around three hundred attendees gathered to deliberate over the status of women, discussing the right to vote, access to education, and property rights. These conversations were radical for their time, framing suffrage not as a mere political instrument but as a catalyst for broader societal reform. The culmination of this first wave came in 1920 when American women achieved the right to vote, a victory that symbolized the possibility of structural change and established a foundation for future activism, asserting that women deserved not only representation in government but a stake in every aspect of social and civic life.

The movement evolved in the early 1960s as the second wave took hold, galvanized by Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. Friedan’s exploration of the dissatisfaction that accompanied the postwar ideal of domestic womanhood resonated with millions, opening a dialogue about workplace inequities, reproductive rights, and educational access. This period saw the proliferation of consciousness-raising groups, spaces where women could articulate their personal experiences of oppression and transform those stories into collective activism. The second wave’s efforts led to tangible outcomes, including legal reforms and the creation of shelters for women and children fleeing domestic abuse, signaling the movement’s ability to address urgent social needs. Yet the wave also exposed a persistent shortcoming: mainstream activism often centered the experiences of white women, leaving women of color marginalized and their intersecting oppressions underrepresented. While the second wave advanced critical social reforms, it simultaneously highlighted the necessity of inclusion, a lesson that would echo in the waves to come.

By the 1990s, the third wave emerged in response to perceived limitations of its predecessor, emphasizing diversity, intersectionality, and a sex-positive approach to feminism. Intersectionality, a concept brought to prominence by Kimberlé Crenshaw, recognizes that oppression manifests through overlapping social, economic, and cultural factors, including race, class, sexuality, and ethnicity. Third-wave feminism confronted enduring issues such as workplace sexual harassment, systemic misogyny, and underrepresentation of women in positions of power, while also celebrating personal empowerment and individual identity. Cultural production played a significant role in this wave; popular music and media embraced the idea of “girl power,” transforming feminist discourse into a medium through which young women could negotiate autonomy, resist harassment, and articulate resistance to societal norms. The third wave demonstrated that feminism could be simultaneously personal and political, reflective and performative, recognizing that identity is complex and multifaceted.

The fourth wave, emerging in 2013, has been characterized by its reliance on digital technology and online activism, reshaping how feminist movements mobilize and communicate. Social media platforms allow activists to share stories, coordinate actions, and amplify voices that might otherwise remain unheard. The #MeToo movement exemplifies this wave, transforming individual accounts of sexual harassment and assault into a collective demand for accountability and systemic change. Digital activism has expanded the reach of feminist discourse, transcending geographic boundaries and enabling global conversations about gender equity. The fourth wave has also shifted public perception, challenging the stigmatization of feminism while foregrounding intersectionality and inclusivity, highlighting that activism in the twenty-first century must account for the multiplicity of experiences women face worldwide.

Across these waves, feminism has remained adaptive, responding to the evolving social and political landscape while grappling with persistent inequities. Each wave built on the gains of the previous one while addressing the shortcomings that became apparent in its predecessors. From the legal victories of the first wave to the consciousness-raising initiatives of the second, the celebratory empowerment of the third, and the digitally fueled global activism of the fourth, the movement demonstrates resilience and continuity. While progress has been uneven and challenges persist, the history of feminism in the United States illustrates a movement capable of reflection, reinvention, and renewed commitment to justice. In tracing this evolution, one recognizes that feminism is neither monolithic nor static. It is a continuum of ideas, actions, and cultural interventions that respond to both the opportunities and the injustices of the time. Understanding this progression provides insight not only into the past but into the potential trajectories of feminist activism, reminding us that the work of gender equity requires persistence, creativity, and a willingness to confront both the visible and the invisible structures that shape our lives.