The Different Types of Feminism How They Differ from Each Other

When you hear the word “feminism,” you probably think of man-hating. But there are many different types of feminism, so here's what they are.

Unfortunately, our society gives us many stereotypes, and they are not always accurate. When asked if they are a feminist, most women scream, “Oh heck no!” But that's because they're not really aware of the fact that there are many different types of feminism.

Many people think that feminists are bra-burning, man-bashing, lesbians who are just plain angry. But that is an extreme stereotype that doesn't hold true for most people who consider themselves a feminist.

When you simply ask someone, “Do you believe that men and women should be treated equally? Paid equally? And overall have equal rights?” most people would reply with a “yes.” So, if so many people believe this, why don't they call themselves feminists?

It's because the word has gotten such a negative meaning over the last few decades. And there are so many misconceptions of the word, such as the fact that men can't be feminists. Believe it or not, they can! Any human being who believes in equal rights for men and women is technically a feminist.

But it's too bad that not a lot of people want to admit it.

The different types of feminism

The first thing we all have to realize is that it's okay to be brave and admit you are a feminist. However, when you call yourself a feminist, it is helpful if you know which kind you are, because there are a lot of different types of feminism. So here they are.

#1 Liberal feminism. This is one of the types of feminism that works within the regular structure of our mainstream society. People who are liberal feminists want sexual equality, and they work to make that happen through political and legal reform.

Therefore, they believe that our culture should change laws *such as employment laws* to make sure that no one is discriminated against because of their gender. Liberal feminists also work to make sure that our society respects women in general.

#2 Radical feminism. Okay, now this is one of the types of feminism that might be one that people generally think of when they hear the word “feminism.” People who call themselves a radical feminist think that sexual discrimination is so deeply integrated into the world that the only way to make things equal is to completely get rid of the whole concept of gender. I know… weird, huh?! How is that even possible? Exactly.

Some of their desires for change are just downright, umm, radical. For example, some want technology to be developed so human fetuses don't have to be grown inside the mother's body. They think this will promote gender equality. In fact, radical feminists think that the whole traditional family is inherently sexist. But, this movement has been slowly dying in recent years.

#3 Separatist and lesbian feminism. Separatist feminism is a form of radical feminism. It thinks that part of the problem of inequality between men and women is rooted in heterosexual relationships. That's why separatist and lesbian feminism are very similar.

These types of feminists believe that because of the sexual differences between men and women, our issues of power are simply not able to be resolved. They don't think that men can possibly be feminists and can't make any contributions to feminist movements.

In fact, some of the people with this belief system think that women should quite literally separate themselves from men and start their own society. Extreme? Yes. But that's what some women believe.

#4 Cultural feminism. This type of feminism is rooted in radical feminism, but they do have some different views. Cultural feminists want to celebrate all the positive characteristics of women. As radical feminism started to fade, cultural feminism got its start.

The movement of cultural feminism believes that we should encourage and promote femininity, and not masculinity. For example, they believe that females are naturally kinder and more loving than males. They believe that if women held more social power than men that the world would have less wars and violence.

#5 Socialist feminism. Unlike the radical feminists, social feminists don't think that male domination *patriarchy* is the only *or main* source of gender inequality. Instead, they think that the oppression of women stems from the fact that some women are financially dependent on men in society.

Social feminists also believe that, because males dominate the business aspect of our capitalistic society, that leads to an uneven gender balance. They want to put an end to economic and social inequality between men and women.

#6 Eco-feminism. Eco-feminism is more of a political and social movement that attempts to combine feminism and environmentalism. The ideologies of eco-feminists include harmony with one another. Just as nature is harmonious if left alone by human beings, they think people can and should also be harmonious, just like nature is.

This type of feminism is more spiritual in nature, and less economical than the others. They think that patriarchal attitudes and actions destroy the earth without thought of the long-term consequences. They might even “worship” the goddess, mother earth.

#7 Black feminism. Black feminism thinks that classism, racism, and sexism are all tied together. Other forms of feminism don't really look that deeply at the race, class, and sex factors. However, black feminists are quite aware that it's nothing to be ignored.

The National Black Feminist organization (NBFO) was founded in 1973, and it was formed in attempt to fight all types of inequalities related to sexism.

#8 Transfeminism. This is one of the types of feminism that probably not a lot of people have heard of. In fact, transgender issues are relatively new to the public discourse in general. As we all know, Kaitlyn Jenner *formerly known as Bruce Jenner* has made transgender issues more well-known and discussed in our culture.

This is a category of feminism that is known for the application of feminist beliefs to transgender issues. Some of the major concepts include diversity, body image, oppression, and misogyny, to name a few. It's not just about merging feminism with trangenderism, but it applies feminist ideologies to social issues that trans people face in society today.

So, there you have it. Now you know that there are many different types of feminism, and these are just a few of them. And hopefully from now on, you will have a better understanding of all the issues that face women in society today.