The Evolution of Feminism: From Noble Roots to Modern Decay

Gloria Steinem, a journalist and political activist, once said, “A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of men and women.” I’m sure we would all agree that is a noble thing. However, over time, that basic idea has radically evolved into something entirely different – and it is toxic.

A look at the four waves of feminism that have been identified will show just how much feminism has evolved over the course of history. 

The first wave of feminism is believed to have started around 1848, primarily in the western world. Its focus was gaining basic legal rights for women such as the right to vote, own property and gain higher education. A key event was the first formal Women’s Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, New York, which marked the beginning of organized feminist movements. At this convention, run by early feminists Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, attendees signed the Declaration of Sentiments to affirm women’s equality with men, and passed various resolutions demanding specific rights, including the right to vote. Now, what came of this first wave of feminism? Well, the 19th amendment of the United States Constitution was passed in 1919, giving women the vote at last. Also, the Married Women’s Property Act expanded the rights of married women to own separate property, because prior to this, a woman’s property became her husband’s once she married. All in all, there were great things accomplished for women in this wave. 

After women got the vote, the feminist movement slowly began to shift its focus to a broader range of issues. This is what historians call the second wave of feminism, beginning in the earl 1960s through the 80s. One of the main principles of this wave was women’s autonomy. Women demanded the right to decide what they did with their lives and their bodies, making one of their biggest goals the legalization of abortion. Many activists of this wave were sympathetic to socialist ideas as well as beginning to question traditional gender roles. There were several things accomplished in this wave, including the Equal Pay Act being passed in 1963 which made it illegal for employers to have different pay for men and women doing the same job. In addition, through the Roe v. Wade case, the legalization of abortion was granted in 1973 by the U.S. Supreme Court. 

The third wave of feminism is generally thought to have begun in the early 1990s. There were some overlaps from second wave feminism, and it continued to build on the achievements from the prior wave. However, third wave feminism also began borrowing ideas from postmodern theory, seeking to challenge and redefine the concept of self, the fluidity of gender, and what being a woman means, and started to emphasize the new ideas of intersectionality and inclusivity. 

Now, there is some disagreement in the next area, but most people accept that there is a fourth wave of feminism as well that started in the early 2000s and continues to the present day. It could be considered simply a continuation of the third wave, except for the fact that new sub-narratives have been introduced such as transgender activism, and an increasingly intense focus on intersectionality and “reproductive rights”. Social media has played a large part in this current wave, with various hashtags and internet campaigns clamoring for social reform. 

This overview of the history and waves of feminism should show that what began as a noble fight for equality has evolved into something entirely different: a racket for LGBTQIA+ rights, abortion on demand, the blurring of gender lines, and a host of other unbiblical causes. Radical feminists seek to dismantle the supposed patriarchy in society, they oppose the biblical roles of husbands and wives, they promote lesbianism, and they seem to deny that there is even a difference between men and women. But above all, these modern feminists call for women to rebel against God’s good design. 

I want to address that today; what all of this activism has in common is its opposition to the Word of God. Some try to say that the Bible is anti-women or oppressive, but in reality, the Bible’s vision for womanhood is infinitely more honorable, freeing, and beautiful than anything feminism has to offer. God created two distinct genders with equal value, both created in the image of God Himself, but with different roles and strengths. No matter how much one pretends, a man can never be a woman and a woman can never be a man, because our bodies and brains are designed to work differently for complementary roles. Now, this does not mean that every single woman must work only in the home. Biblical womanhood is embracing femininity in whatever area God has gifted you in, whether that be medicine, law, trade, or making a home. This may ruffle some people's feathers, but the Bible is clear about God’s blueprint for marriage and family. Men are created to be the leader, the provider, loving their wife just as Christ loved the Church and gave His life for her. Women are to be the nurturers, the helpmates, submitting to their husbands as to the Lord. 

Both the Bible and science clearly show that life begins at conception, so to take that life for any reason is to take the life of an innocent human being who cannot defend themself. Children are a blessing given from God’s hand, and are to be treasured and trained up in the ways of the Lord, so that when they are old they will not depart from it. This is God’s good design for the family. 

So, in summary, we have seen that feminism was originally a positive movement, focused on granting women the basic rights God intended for every person to have. Regrettably, today’s feminism now focuses on destroying the distinctions between men and women, rejecting our God-given roles, and propagating LGBTQIA+ rights and abortion on demand. 

Feminism will not empower and free women. It will harm and enslave them. True freedom and fulfillment can only be found in embracing God’s beautiful, perfect design for womanhood, family, marriage, and life as a whole.

Sources:

Guy-Evans, O. (2024, February 19). Four waves of feminism explained. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/four-waves-feminism.html 

Pruitt, S. (2025, May 28). What are the four waves of feminism?. History.com. https://www.history.com/articles/feminism-four-waves 

Hernandez, I. D. los R. (2025, January 15). From suffrage movements to #Metoo: The enduring global fight for gender equality. Harvard International Review. https://hir.harvard.edu/a-womans-work-how-the-suffragists-shaped-modern-politics/ 

GotQuestions.org. (2015, April 28). Is feminist theology biblical? https://www.gotquestions.org/feminist-theology.html 

*Note: This post was originally a speech delivered live at a Christian co-op but was adapted and slightly edited for this platform.