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Description
Shrouded in confusion and misunderstanding, probably since the beginning of the movement, feminism as a term has held different meanings for everyone.  Although the feminist movement has an incredible variety of subtypes, the common thread underlying all of the branches deals with equality.  Equality of the sexes is the soul of feminism.
Male definitions of feminism seem, more often than not, negative and extreme in nature.  Although there are certainly exceptions, men tend to associate feminism most with the radical second-wave feminists.  Radical second-wave feminists advocated the replacement of what they believed was a patriarchal society with a matriarchal society, or female superiority.  However, feminists are individuals, each with her own unique view.  Those who have trouble seeing feminists as individuals will refer to some common popular slang definitions which include “man-haters” and “femi-nazis” to define feminism.  The sweeping negative generalizations made by some males completely overlook the striving for equality, which is not exclusive to females alone.
While most females tentatively would define feminism as a movement for equality of the sexes, many women choose not to associate themselves in any way with the term.  Perhaps afraid of the social associations, (again the unwarranted link between the somewhat general term “feminism” and the radical movement) some women would rather let themselves become insecure almost to the point of oppression, than be seen as strong, aware women.  Other women think nothing of any possible associations, and are proud to call themselves feminists.  These women believe the need to fight the continual battle for equality on all fronts is just as critical as when the movement began during the Enlightenment.  These two dramatically different approaches to the term “feminism” are great contradictions within the female gender.  There are as many definitions of feminism as there are females.
Although feminism has been around since the 18th century, it only became an organized movement in the 19th century.  There have been strong resurgences of the feminist movement in the 1920’s and after 1960.  The first “wave” of feminism consisted of the early feminists in the 19th and early 20th century.  These feminists’ main focus was gaining suffrage, or votes for women.  Second wave feminists were feminists after about 1960 who called for increased political action for women’s rights and greater independence.  Second wave feminists, mainly middle-class white women, were also concerned with problems such as economic inequality.  Circa 1990, the third wave of feminism began challenging conventional thoughts about gender and sexuality.  This new generation of feminists put more emphasis on equality than with destroying the patriarchy by which the second wave feminists felt oppressed.  Third wave feminists are said to have more in common with first wave feminists than second.  Each major movement had varying goals, each with a purpose of advancing woman’s standing in society and reaching the elusive equal balance of male and female worth in today’s world.
The basis of all feminist movements seems to be the need to create some kind of equality between women and men.  Should feminists be called equalitists?  Masculinism and feminism as words are separated by their very nature, yet both share the same objective-equality of the sexes.  Although it is doubtful that “feminism” will ever shed all of its confusing layers in individual definitions, males and females alike can be assured that feminism is not an overbearing, sexist movement, but a movement to promote the equality of the sexes.

Description
Shrouded in confusion and misunderstanding, probably since the beginning of the movement, feminism as a term has held different meanings for everyone.  Although the feminist movement has an incredible variety of subtypes, the common thread underlying all of the branches deals with equality.  Equality of the sexes is the soul of feminism.
Male definitions of feminism seem, more often than not, negative and extreme in nature.  Although there are certainly exceptions, men tend to associate feminism most with the radical second-wave feminists.  Radical second-wave feminists advocated the replacement of what they believed was a patriarchal society with a matriarchal society, or female superiority.  However, feminists are individuals, each with her own unique view.  Those who have trouble seeing feminists as individuals will refer to some common popular slang definitions which include “man-haters” and “femi-nazis” to define feminism.  The sweeping negative generalizations made by some males completely overlook the striving for equality, which is not exclusive to females alone.
While most females tentatively would define feminism as a movement for equality of the sexes, many women choose not to associate themselves in any way with the term.  Perhaps afraid of the social associations, (again the unwarranted link between the somewhat general term “feminism” and the radical movement) some women would rather let themselves become insecure almost to the point of oppression, than be seen as strong, aware women.  Other women think nothing of any possible associations, and are proud to call themselves feminists.  These women believe the need to fight the continual battle for equality on all fronts is just as critical as when the movement began during the Enlightenment.  These two dramatically different approaches to the term “feminism” are great contradictions within the female gender.  There are as many definitions of feminism as there are females.
Although feminism has been around since the 18th century, it only became an organized movement in the 19th century.  There have been strong resurgences of the feminist movement in the 1920’s and after 1960.  The first “wave” of feminism consisted of the early feminists in the 19th and early 20th century.  These feminists’ main focus was gaining suffrage, or votes for women.  Second wave feminists were feminists after about 1960 who called for increased political action for women’s rights and greater independence.  Second wave feminists, mainly middle-class white women, were also concerned with problems such as economic inequality.  Circa 1990, the third wave of feminism began challenging conventional thoughts about gender and sexuality.  This new generation of feminists put more emphasis on equality than with destroying the patriarchy by which the second wave feminists felt oppressed.  Third wave feminists are said to have more in common with first wave feminists than second.  Each major movement had varying goals, each with a purpose of advancing woman’s standing in society and reaching the elusive equal balance of male and female worth in today’s world.
The basis of all feminist movements seems to be the need to create some kind of equality between women and men.  Should feminists be called equalitists?  Masculinism and feminism as words are separated by their very nature, yet both share the same objective-equality of the sexes.  Although it is doubtful that “feminism” will ever shed all of its confusing layers in individual definitions, males and females alike can be assured that feminism is not an overbearing, sexist movement, but a movement to promote the equality of the sexes.