The Different Types of Feminism
Don’t we all want the same thing?
First, a Brief History Lesson on American Feminism
The term ‘Feminism’ was coined in the 1830s by French (male) philosopher Charles Fourier. It was initially meant to describe someone’s feminine characteristics or qualities. It wasn’t until the middle of the 19th century that the term ‘Feminism’ was used in the way we relate to it now.
Feminism, of course, became a popular term and philosophy for women during the suffrage movement of the mid-1800s and early 1900s. “The first organized movement aimed at gaining rights for American women effectively began in July 1848, with the convention organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott at Seneca Falls, New York. Attendees signed the Declaration of Sentiments, which affirmed women’s equality with men and passed a dozen resolutions calling for various specific rights, including the right to vote” (Sarah Pruitt, History.com).
Feminism has had many controversies, primarily with its initial (and continued) insensitivity and mistreatment of non-white women. People of color, specifically Black women, were not always allowed into Feminist spaces. White women were permitted the right to vote through the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. It wasn’t until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that Black women had the right to vote.
This period of Feminism is regarded as the “First Wave” and took place from 1848 to 1920.
The “Second Wave” of Feminism lasted from 1963 to the 1980s. During this time, women demanded equality in the workplace and at home.
This wave saw the passing of the Equal Pay Act (1963), the mass introduction of contraception (1965), and Roe v. Wade (1973).
Unfortunately, “Second Wave” Feminism also had problems with centering white women and leaving Black women out of the conversation. During this period, many Black women felt so discluded from the current Feminist circles that they created their own, including the National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO).
Conservative power in America (Ronald Reagan) led the phasing out of women’s liberation. It wasn’t until the following decade that the next “wave” began to rise.
The 1990s, also known as the “Third Wave,” saw women tackle issues of sexual abuse in the workplace and the lack of women in positions of power. 1992 was dubbed “Year of the Woman” for the large number of women elected into the United States Senate.
The 1990s saw the introduction of “Riot Grrrl Feminism,” a punk-rock perspective on women’s liberation. Sexual abuse, racism, patriarchy, and other difficult conversations were now being held on stage. No more ‘keeping quiet.’
“Third Wave” Feminism quickly became “Fourth Wave” Feminism, which is where we currently stand.
“Fourth Wave” Feminism focuses on speaking out against sexual assault (#Metoo), intersectionality with BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ communities, body positivity, and dismantling the system that has allowed the patriarchy to harm everyone in its path.
Now that we have established how we got here… let’s see exactly where we are.
Black Feminism
Black Feminist Theory focuses on the oppression of racism, sexism, classism, colorism, and other forms of oppression, especially related to women. Black Feminism is especially prevalent today alongside the Black Lives Matter movement and the corresponding #SayHerName campaign. Black women abused within the animal exploitation industries or at the hands of their slaughterhouse-working husbands are not considered. To learn more about Black Feminism, click here.
Choice Feminism
Choice Feminist Theory focuses on a woman’s right to choose in all aspects of her life. This means all choices women make, regardless of what they are, can be held under the umbrella of ‘Choice Feminism.’ This includes whether or not they choose to marry, have children, work, wear makeup, create pornography, etc. This genre of Feminism aims to be as non-judgemental as possible under the guise that women know what is best for themselves and other people should ‘butt out.’ The aftermath of these ‘choices’ is often not considered, including the women and females abused within the animal exploitation industries. There are little to no unbiased articles about Choice Feminism, but the Wikipedia entry provides some further insight.
Cultural Feminism
Cultural Feminist Theory focuses on the way women see the world and aims to create a world where women are equal and protected in modern cultures. This includes creating women's crisis centers, advocating for stay-at-home mothers, and uplifting and connecting women across all communities. Unfortunately, this connection does not extend to women and females abused across many cultures due to the animal exploitation industries. To learn more about Cultural Feminism, click here.
Ecofeminism
Ecofeminist Theory focuses on the way the patriarchy and men have depleted the Earth’s resources, similar to how women have been used and abused since the dawn of man. Ecofeminists practice environmentalism and implement methods that highlight organic processes, conservation, holistic healing, and more. Surprisingly, not all Ecofeminists are vegan; some aren’t even vegetarian. With animal agriculture significantly contributing to ecological destruction, it seems quite hypocritical that this branch of Feminism does not include veganism. To learn more about Ecofeminism, click here.
Intersectional Feminism
Intersectional Feminist Theory focuses on uplifting and protecting all women, especially women that have been left out of previous Feminist spaces, like transwomen, Black women, lesbians, Muslim women, disabled women, and more. Again, surprisingly, Intersectional Feminism does not implement veganism into its theory, nor does the theory raise awareness for women of color mistreated in the animal exploitation industries or non-human females exploited for their reproductive systems. To learn more about Intersectional Feminism, click here.
Liberal Feminism
Liberal Feminist Theory focuses on freedom for women, specifically reproductive freedom and freedom from the male gaze. It does not focus on reproductive freedom or freedom from enslavement of non-human animals. Liberal Feminist theory is closely related to Choice Feminist theory and is often referred to as “White Feminist Theory.” Liberal Feminism aims to end the negative stigmas associated with a woman’s natural body (body hair, acne, wrinkles, cellulite, etc.) and bodily functions (pregnancy, menstruation, childbirth, menopause, etc.). Liberal Feminism does not extend to non-human female bodies. To learn more about Liberal Feminism, click here.
Marxist/Socialist Feminism
Marxist or Socialist Feminist Theory focuses on how women are exploited through capitalism. This approach acts as an extension of Marxist/Socialist theory. Marxist/Socialist Feminists believe that capitalism is the root cause of a woman’s exploitation, objectification, and unhappiness. Women exploited within the animal exploitation industries are not considered, and neither are the non-human animals who suffer tremendously due to capitalistic systems. To learn more about Marxist/Socialist Feminism, click here.
Radical Feminism
Radical Feminist Theory focuses on eradicating gender roles and the patriarchy and restructuring society. Radical Feminism points to all men as oppressors and that marriage, having children, and other traditional roles filled by women should be abolished. They believe that the cause of gender inequality is men’s innate desire to control and overpower women. Marriage and motherhood are often considered forms of oppression and unpaid labor. Women abused in the animal exploitation industries, female non-human animals abused for their reproductive organs, and women suffering domestic violence at the hands of their slaughterhouse-working husbands are not considered. To learn more about Radical Feminism, click here.
As you can see, the currently recognized branches of Feminism do not include the victims maltreated by the animal exploitation industries. These victims include women assaulted by their bosses at the slaughterhouse, women abused by their slaughterhouse-working husbands, women poisoned at work in the animal textile industries, and all of the non-human females abused, exploited, oppressed, and violated for their reproductive systems and entire existence.
Thus, Vegan-Feminism was born.
Vegan-Feminism
Vegan-Feminist Theory focuses on abolishing all forms of abuse, exploitation, oppression, and violence for all sentient beings, with a primary focus on women and females, regardless of species. Vegan-Feminism is deeply concerned with human animals, especially women, abused within the confines of the animal agriculture industries, animal textile industries, and all other animal exploitation industries. These industries are extremely dangerous, both mentally and physically, for all involved. Vegan-Feminism also has an extreme focus on non-human animals, especially females, raped, tortured, and abused within the confines of all animal exploitation industries. Without abusing female non-human animals’ reproductive systems, there would be no animal exploitation industries. These industries profit off of the enslavement and torture of the female body.
Vegan-Feminism, as it currently stands, is not recognized alongside the other branches of Feminism; maybe that’s a good thing, considering these branches seem quite hypocritical. It’s unfortunate that there even needs to be this many ‘genres’ of Feminism (and I didn’t even list all of them!). Don’t we all want the same thing? Apparently not. Remember, none of these previously mentioned ‘branches’ require you to give up anything. Maybe Radical Feminism requires you to ‘give up’ marriage, but I don’t know how many married women would turn to Radical Feminism if that was an absolute requirement. Vegan-Feminism does require a ‘sacrifice.’ A ‘sacrifice’ that ends unnecessary and unjustifiable violence and cruelty for women and females, regardless of their species, across the globe. To me, that’s not much of a sacrifice.