feminism

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The belief that women should have the same rights, opportunities, and treatment as men, and the movement that works for this.

   Grammar: Uncountable: talk about feminism in general, not 'a feminism'.

   Patterns

   • a supporter of feminism
   • the history of feminism
   • feminism in the workplace

   Feminism has changed laws about equal pay and property rights in many countries.

   She became interested in feminism while studying history at university.

   The book explains how feminism developed differently in different parts of the world.

2. 2nouncountable

   A particular branch or school of thought within the movement for women's equality.

   Grammar: Countable when referring to a specific type: liberal feminism, radical feminism, etc.

   Patterns

   • a form of feminism
   • different feminisms

   The course covers liberal feminism and socialist feminism.

   Scholars often compare the different feminisms that emerged in the twentieth century.

Common combinations

a champion of feminism

She was a champion of feminism long before it became widely discussed.

the rise of feminism

The rise of feminism in the 1960s led to major social changes.

feminism and gender equality

The lecture linked feminism and gender equality in modern law.

Synonyms and how they differ

women's liberation

Often refers specifically to the movement of the 1960s and 1970s; feminism is the broader, more general term.

women's rights

Focuses on legal and political entitlements; feminism also includes cultural and social criticism.

Opposites

Word family

feminist noun

A person who supports feminism.

feminist adjective

Relating to feminism, as in feminist ideas or a feminist writer.

Commonly confused: feminism or femininity?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “feminism”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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