Third Generation Feminism

Compared to first generation gender bias (pre Women’s Movement) – which was deliberate and involved intentional exclusion in social settings – second generation gender bias is unintentional and natural in action. With new forms of communication – it is much easier for women to tackle the gender roles visible in today’s society compared to past women’s movements. Just as Ms. Magazine embodied feminist media in the 1960s, many popular magazines have established themselves as major third wave feminist expressions. Bust (created in 1993) and Bitch (created in 1996) are two modern feminist magazines (known as “zines”) aimed at younger women with the goal of positive female imagery and creating a new base for this growing movement. Along with

Younger feminists (many of whom were third wavers) argued that gender no longer constrained them. They felt that they were free to enjoy “girlie” femininity that the women before them participated in, but without the oppression that followed this expression. Third wave feminists stated that they were rebelling against the cross-sexual dress seen in the sisters before them. Third wave feminists attempted to reclaim their power, by dressing in a manner that society thought dehumanized them. This was an ongoing struggle of post-1990s feminism – how to reclaim different aspects of “traditional” female sexuality and femininity in which their culture dehumanizes them for expressing. But to these women, their expression of dress was another form of empowerment. Just as the third wave attempts to change connotations of words, they also attempt to change the views of truly feminine women based on their

Traditional women’s issues – such as reproductive rights and ending rape – and more recent issues – such as transgender rights and immigration reform – are all collective efforts of third wavers. Third wave activists believe in the sexual liberation of women through practicing open promiscuity, eliminating gender roles and discrediting derogatory terms. Third wave feminists support diverse and multicultural issues – such as differing races, ethnicities, economic statuses, and sexual orientations – and defend a universal definition for the female gender. And while third wave feminism seeks to engage in an array of topics, previous waves of feminism criticize the newest wave for being too inclusive. The youngest generation of feminism defends their stances to the sceptics by stating their belief as, “a belief in the full personhood of women and an agenda of eradicating all forms of oppression that keep people from achieving their full