30-Second Feminism

This concise guide to feminism explains all the key concepts, people and terms in the movement, each explained in no more than 300 words and one picture. Feminism is a global movement, developing with each cut and thrust of history to form a parallel 'herstory'. But what are the most important feminist ideas? What do terms like 'patriarchy', 'rape culture' and 'intersectionality' mean? How have these terms emerged from historical conditions facing women around the world – from a lack of basic rights to harassment and intimidationonline? How has activism shaped those ideas and who have been the key activists? This book traces the movement from its earliest beginnings through the suffrage movement, Women's Lib, the emergence of postcolonial feminism and into the present day. Important and seminal feminist texts and theories are explained, from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman to The Feminine Mystique to Whipping Girl, giving you everything you need to know about the ongoing fight for women's equality. From Mary Wollstonecraft to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, from how the personal is political to changing views of sisterhood, and from the suffragettes to hashtag feminism, 30-Second Feminism offers readers the fastest way to enter the world of sexual and gender politics fully briefed, with an overview of the main ideas in feminism today – and an explanation of how they came into being.