DURING really earlier times, growing up as a little girl, we were taught by our mothers how to act classy and pristine to fit in on what is classified as feminine. 

Girls aren’t to be seen playing with military figures as it is only created for the boys; let alone are forbidden to be dressed in blue as the color was classified to be masculine. 

Elders are to deprive us of the education we need—reasoning on how women ought to carry and birth the kids who are to carry the next generation. 

Growing up with these traditional gender roles eventually shaped us to think about what is meant to be feminine or not and because of this; women are pressured to conform to what is acceptable to be feminine.  

However, as time progresses; these gender roles that are once molded into our minds began expanding from what was known to defy societal norms. 

Women began entering the male-dominated field—the workforce that was once forbidden from them due to their “feminine characteristics” interfering with the said job. 

For many years, women have been fighting for their rights to live in the world freely and equally along with their male counterparts. They gathered around, protested, and asserted voices–screaming how they were more than just a woman. 

The wave of feminism 

For many decades, more and more women leaned into the influences of feminism due to its empowerment. Thanks to feminism, harmful societal and cultural norms were challenged and abuse towards women were reduced. 

Feminism first began at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 where 300 men and women rallied to the cause of equality for women. The rally was led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton; outlining the new movement’s ideology and political strategies. 

During this stage, it opened discussions about women being able to vote and participate in politics, leading to studying the difference between men and women as they were then viewed. 

In the second wave of feminism in the 1960s continued to the 90s, a new wave unfolded; tackling the context of anti-war, civil rights movements, and the growing self-consciousness of a variety of minority groups around the world.

Sexuality and reproductive rights were major concerns during this time, and the movement’s main focus was on ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, which would have guaranteed social equality for all people, regardless of gender.

The third wave of feminism began getting into the spotlight in the mid-90s, leading to a more progressive side that focused on the issues of intersectionality, diversity, and body autonomy. 

During this wave, it has also redefined feminism—further challenging traditional notions of femininity that allow women to express themselves authentically according to their fashion and beauty of choice. 

In recent times, feminism further improved through the fourth wave, now expanding more to the topics of body positivity, improved gender equality, and addressing rape culture and sexual harassment. 

During this wave, technology was more handy as social media were now used to promote these movements. It was a lot easier in the modern days as anyone can participate with just the click of a finger. 

And with the fight they come to put up with comes the reward of freedom that we now come to enjoy these days. However, the fight is still ongoing as more improvements can still be made to further improve the lives of women. 

The right to be free

With feminism comes with the effect of creating generations of strong women, and with more women opening their eyes to the idea of following what and who they want to be comes with the consequences of continuously defying the societal norms that were once implemented during the earlier times. 

Many people believe that now that women can make their own choices, they think that no woman in this time would like to settle down by being pursued and having a family in the future. 

However, that is not just the case at all as the whole purpose of fighting for women’s rights paves a way to create a fundamental human right where everyone is treated equally. 

The female population makes up about half the population human population. If men are receiving rights and respect for their choices, why can’t women get the same?  

The modern woman

Adapting to becoming a modern woman doesn’t mean that you are defying your femininity; it just means that you now have the option to choose what you want to do for yourself in this life.  

Now that you’re living in a year where people can be just as open, women are now able to live with their rights and pursue their ambitions without being confined to traditional gender roles. 

This is all thanks to the hard work that many women put through so many years to give us the freedom will all have today.