Fifth-Wave Feminism

First-wave feminism was cause driven and focussed on women’s right to vote. Second-wave feminism primarily defined women as being a subject of systemic exploitation through ‘the patriarchy’. Third/fourth wave approaches are more complicated. Many ideas have become noticeable in the literature which make this the case. The idea of intersectionality is of particular importance as it redefines what a ‘woman’ is in the first place. Post-structuralism further confuses the picture as it makes feminist ‘prescription’ more difficult. This book outlines some of the philosophical consequences to taking third/fourth wave ideas to their logical end point. In particular the book argues that a true intersectional approach would result in the philosophical self-implosion of feminism.