How has the feminist movement changed over time?

The original thoughts based on feminism has been often the social, political and economic gender equality. In the past- 19 th century, women had always been taken for granted and were observed to be of no measure compared to the men. They did not have the same opportunities and rights the way men had and were expected to have certain behaviors. The feminism movements started having its wave in the late 19 th century when North America and Europe began fighting for rights such as possessing women’s suffrage (DuBois, 1999). Into the 20 th century, women started having access into voting rights in many countries that led to the significant shift of the role women play in the society. In the 1960s, the “Women’s Liberation Movement” was launched that served as the second wave. The agenda addressed by the movement involved reproductive rights, domestic violence, abortion and workplace discrimination. Then the third wave emerged in the 1990s discussing matters of sexuality. 

What are the pressing issues being addressed by the global contemporary movement? 

The most pressing issues is about the division of labor. Feminists argue that there is a disparity between the male and female counterparts concerning jobs/labor. They say that the women in the society are less paid and are ready to work in conditions of underpaid drudgery. The second pressing issue concerns violence towards the female gender. Some of the unresolved issues that the contemporary global movement tends to fight are violence against women. A higher percentage of women who are involved in domestic violence are highly significant. Hence, the campaigns have to be significantly available to help in resolving such matters — additionally, the other pressing issue that the global contemporary movement addresses concern social inequality (Ferree & Hess, 2002). The groups that face the danger are women. Hence, such cases that affect the group are based on races, gender, sexual orientation, and disability compared to other groups that create an extreme disadvantage to one gender-based group. 

Reference 

DuBois, E. C. (1999). Feminism and suffrage: The emergence of an independent women's movement in America, 1848-1869. Cornell University Press. 

Ferree, M. M., & Hess, B. (2002). Controversy and coalition: The new feminist movement across four decades of change. Routledge.