Feminism, American

Simply put, feminism is a political philosophy and practice centering on the concerns of women and opposing gender inequality. There is no one universally accepted way of conceptualizing feminism or of being a feminist; therefore, many contemporary feminists feel that the plural term feminisms best encompasses the great diversity among approaches to feminism. Generally speaking, the various contemporary approaches to feminism overlap in their dedication to opposing sexism, misogyny, and structural inequalities between women and men, as well as inequalities between girls and boys. Many types of feminism also emphasize the importance of women's personal experiences, arguing that “the personal is political.” Additionally, most contemporary feminisms share an intellectual and ethical commitment to addressing forms of structural inequality that intersect with gender, such as racism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, xenophobia, and/or sizeism.

Although some media sources and opponents of women's equality have called into question the contemporary relevance, or even existence of contemporary feminism, feminism remains both alive and necessary in the 21st century. Women still earn less than men, and this wage gap is greatest for women of color. Physical violence perpetrated against women by their current or former romantic partners remains prevalent and continues to constitute a leading cause of injury to women. Globally, women receive inferior healthcare and education to men, and wield less political and economic power than men. And in many countries, including the United States, constituents have yet to elect a female head of state.

With a long history, extending back to the 19th century, feminism seeks to eradicate these and other injustices through a variety of means. Feminism has transformed not only higher education but language itself. Women, men, and people of varying gender identities who are aligned with the goals of feminism continue to strive for gender equality in numerous ways, including engagement with scholarly and/or artistic work, and by participating in social movements.