feminism
C2Formal / Academic / Political
Definition
Meaning
The belief in and advocacy for the social, economic, and political equality of the sexes.
A movement and diverse collection of social theories, political movements, and moral philosophies concerned with gender inequalities, women's rights, and interests. It includes various waves and branches (e.g., liberal, radical, intersectional feminism) focusing on different aspects of inequality and strategies for change.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is often used broadly but can refer to specific historical movements (e.g., first-wave suffrage, second-wave liberation). It is sometimes misinterpreted as being 'anti-male' or exclusively for women, but its core principle is gender equality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical differences. The term is used identically in core meaning. The cultural and historical contexts of feminist movements differ between the UK and US.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term can carry strong political and social connotations, positive or negative depending on the speaker's viewpoint. In public discourse, it may be used as a neutral descriptor or a pejorative label.
Frequency
High frequency in academic, political, and media contexts in both regions. Slightly more prevalent in US media discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
commitment to feminisma branch of feminisman analysis through feminisma critique of feminismVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Feminism is for everybody”
- “The personal is political (core feminist slogan)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Discussed in contexts of gender pay gaps, diversity initiatives, and leadership equity (e.g., 'The company's policies are influenced by modern feminism.').
Academic
A central subject in gender studies, sociology, political science, and literature (e.g., 'Her thesis applies queer theory to third-wave feminism.').
Everyday
Used in discussions about equal rights, household responsibilities, and media representation (e.g., 'I believe in feminism because men should share parental leave.').
Technical
In specific philosophical or sociological discourse, referring to distinct theories like 'materialist feminism' or 'intersectional feminism'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The group aims to feminise the curriculum.
- Her work feministies classical texts.
American English
- The organization worked to feminist the policy framework.
- She feminized the workplace culture.
adverb
British English
- The text was read feministly.
- She argued feministly for the policy change.
American English
- He interprets the law feministly.
- The article is written from a feministly informed position.
adjective
British English
- That is a feminist perspective.
- She wrote a feminist analysis of the novel.
American English
- He is a feminist scholar.
- They adopted a feminist framework for the study.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Feminism is about equality.
- She believes in feminism.
- Modern feminism focuses on many issues like equal pay.
- He supports feminism because he wants his daughter to have the same opportunities.
- The history of feminism is often divided into distinct waves, each with its own priorities.
- Critics argue that some forms of feminism do not adequately address the concerns of working-class women.
- Intersectional feminism posits that women's oppression cannot be understood in isolation from other axes of discrimination such as race and class.
- Postcolonial feminism offers a critique of Western feminist discourse for its assumed universality.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FEMinISM: For Equality, Mostly - In Society, Men and women.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LENS (to view society through), A WAVE (historical movements), A FIGHT/A STRUGGLE (for rights).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'феминизм' often carries a stronger, more politicised, and sometimes negative connotation in Russian media discourse than the English term does in neutral academic contexts.
- Do not confuse with 'femininity' (женственность).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'feminism' to mean 'the state of being a woman' (that's 'femininity').
- Using it as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'She has a strong feminism' – prefer 'She is a strong feminist' or 'She has strong feminist beliefs.').
Practice
Quiz
Which term is most closely related to the core principle of feminism?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While historically focused on redressing injustices against women, the core principle of feminism is gender equality, which benefits all genders. Many men identify as feminists.
Feminism is a socio-political belief system. Femininity is a set of attributes, behaviours, and roles traditionally associated with women.
A historical metaphor: First wave (late 19th-early 20th c.) focused on suffrage and legal rights; Second wave (1960s-80s) on sexuality, family, workplace; Third wave (1990s) on diversity and individuality; Fourth wave (21st c.) often linked to technology and intersectionality.
Yes. Internal critique is common and vital for any movement's growth. Criticising specific strands, theories, or actions within feminism does not necessarily mean rejecting the fundamental goal of gender equality.
Collections
Part of a collection
Cultural Topics
B2 · 47 words · Analyzing culture, society and identity.
Social Theory
C1 · 47 words · Advanced vocabulary for sociology and social science.