Feminism

By lesielijoseph
  • Lysistrata by Aristophanes (420 BCE)
    420 BCE

    Lysistrata by Aristophanes (420 BCE)

    Theater: A Greek comedy where women withhold sex to end a war — one of the earliest plays showing women’s collective power.
    420 BCE
  • Cleopatra VII of Egypt (30 BCE)
    30 BCE

    Cleopatra VII of Egypt (30 BCE)

    History: Known for her intelligence, diplomacy, and political power in a male-dominated world, she redefined ancient femininity.
    30 BCE
  • Christine de Pizan – “The Book of the City of Ladies” (1360 CE)
    1360

    Christine de Pizan – “The Book of the City of Ladies” (1360 CE)

    Literature: One of the first feminist texts, defending women’s virtue and intellect against medieval misogyny.
    1360
  • William Shakespeare – “Twelfth Night” (1603 CE)

    William Shakespeare – “Twelfth Night” (1603 CE)

    Theater: Viola’s disguise as a man challenges gender roles and explores women’s wit and resilience.
    1603
  • Mary Wollstonecraft – “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” (1792 CE)

    Mary Wollstonecraft – “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” (1792 CE)

    Philosophy/Literature: One of the foundational works of feminist thought, advocating for women’s education and equality.
  • Seneca Falls Convention (1848 CE)

    Seneca Falls Convention (1848 CE)

    History: The first women’s rights convention in the U.S., marking the organized beginning of feminism in America.
    1848
  • Édouard Manet – “Olympia” (1863 CE)

    Édouard Manet – “Olympia” (1863 CE)

    Art History: This controversial painting challenged passive depictions of women, presenting female agency and gaze.
  • Kate Chopin – “The Awakening” (1899 CE)

    Kate Chopin – “The Awakening” (1899 CE)

    Literature: A groundbreaking novel portraying a woman’s struggle for independence and sexual freedom.
  • Virginia Woolf – “A Room of One’s Own” (1929 CE)

    Virginia Woolf – “A Room of One’s Own” (1929 CE)

    Literature: Argues that women need financial independence and personal space to create art and literature.
  • Dorothea Lange – “Migrant Mother” (1939 CE)

    Dorothea Lange – “Migrant Mother” (1939 CE)

    Photography: Captures the strength and suffering of women during the Great Depression; an iconic symbol of feminine endurance.
  • Simone de Beauvoir – “The Second Sex” (1949 CE)

    Simone de Beauvoir – “The Second Sex” (1949 CE)

    Philosophy: A foundational feminist text analyzing how women have been defined as “the Other.” de Beauvoir proposes that women are not born but made; that Woman is socially constructed as the subordinated and defining Other to Man, who represents humanity, the Subject, and the norm.
  • Betty Friedan – “The Feminine Mystique” (1963 CE)

    Betty Friedan – “The Feminine Mystique” (1963 CE)

    Literature/History: Sparked second-wave feminism by revealing the unhappiness of suburban housewives.
  • Aretha Franklin – “Respect” (1971 CE)

    Aretha Franklin – “Respect” (1971 CE)

    Music: A soul anthem of empowerment and female independence that became a feminist rallying cry. https://youtu.be/6FOUqQt3Kg0?si=eV6r8bvSD6G8Gn2w
  • Alice Walker – “The Color Purple” (1985 CE)

    Alice Walker – “The Color Purple” (1985 CE)

    Literature/Film: Portrays Black women’s struggle for empowerment, self-love, and sisterhood.
  • Guerrilla Girls – Feminist Art Activism (1991 CE)

    Guerrilla Girls – Feminist Art Activism (1991 CE)

    Art History/Activism: Anonymous female artists protested sexism in art museums, promoting visibility for women artists.