Feminism

Generally feminism means the advocacy of women's  rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Feminist movements have campaigned and continue to campaign for women's rights. Including the right to vote, to hold public office, to work, to earn fair wages or equal pay, to own property, to receive education, to enter contracts, to have equal rights within marriage, and to have maternity leave Feminists have also worked to promote bodily autonomy and integrity, and to protect women and girls from rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. Charles Fourier, a Utopian Socialist and French philosopher, is credited with having coined the word "féminisme" in 1837.

First-wave feminism was a period of activity during the 19th century and early twentieth century. In the UK and US, it focused on the promotion of equal contract, marriage, parenting. and property rights for women. By the end of the 19th century, activism focused primarily on gaining political power, particularly the right of women's suffrage, though some feminists were active in campaigning for women's sexual, reproductive, and economic rights as well. Women's suffrage began in Britain's Australasian colonies at the close of the 19th century, with the self-governing colonies of New Zealand granting women the right to vote in 1893 and South Australia granting female suffrage (the right to vote and stand for parliamentary office) in 1895. This was followed by Australia granting female suffrage in 1902. Third world feminist writers including Virginia Woolf, Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Begum Rokeya etc played an important role in establishing feminism. In Rokeya’s Sultana’s Dream, she tries to focus the feminist focal point and established a sense of hatred towards the oppression of men.