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Feminism in the 1990s
Feminism in the 1990s was a movement unique to its time but also deeply connected to earlier movements for women’s rights and gender equality. Often referred to as the "third wave", the feminism of the '90s was a reaction to both the incomplete accomplishments of earlier waves and the contradictory—yet popular—belief that feminism was no longer necessary.
Beginning with a brief overview of the various goals and phases of feminism from the early 19th century onward, writer and feminist theorist Jennifer Baumgardner takes you on a tour of a tumultuous decade full of complex issues and contradictions through the lens of the feminist movement and the ways it shaped—and was shaped by—the closing years of the 20th century. From abortion rights to ‘zines, Feminism in the 1990s explores the ways third-wave feminism reacted to popular culture while simultaneously being co-opted by it.
As you will see, feminism in the 1990s was about more than "girl power". It was about politics on scales both personal and global as well as a reaction to the rising power of commodification and persistent sexism in everything from film and music to sports and education. These lectures also look closely at the weaknesses that plagued feminism’s attempts at inclusivity and the many ways the movement has branched off to address these issues, including the vital concept of intersectionality and the power of anger to inspire change.
Every wave of feminism encountered derision and backlash from those devoted to preserving the status quo, and the feminism of the 1990s was no different. Despite opposition from politicians, traditionalists, and even earlier feminists, you will discover how the movement for women’s equality became stronger and louder than ever before, often led by a new generation raised with feminist ideals who wanted to build a better, more equitable world.
Beginning with a brief overview of the various goals and phases of feminism from the early 19th century onward, writer and feminist theorist Jennifer Baumgardner takes you on a tour of a tumultuous decade full of complex issues and contradictions through the lens of the feminist movement and the ways it shaped—and was shaped by—the closing years of the 20th century. From abortion rights to ‘zines, Feminism in the 1990s explores the ways third-wave feminism reacted to popular culture while simultaneously being co-opted by it.
As you will see, feminism in the 1990s was about more than "girl power". It was about politics on scales both personal and global as well as a reaction to the rising power of commodification and persistent sexism in everything from film and music to sports and education. These lectures also look closely at the weaknesses that plagued feminism’s attempts at inclusivity and the many ways the movement has branched off to address these issues, including the vital concept of intersectionality and the power of anger to inspire change.
Every wave of feminism encountered derision and backlash from those devoted to preserving the status quo, and the feminism of the 1990s was no different. Despite opposition from politicians, traditionalists, and even earlier feminists, you will discover how the movement for women’s equality became stronger and louder than ever before, often led by a new generation raised with feminist ideals who wanted to build a better, more equitable world.
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Published August 18, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 9, 2021
I truly enjoyed an Audiobook from Audible Feminism in the 1990s by Jennifer Baumgardner, The Great Courses, narrated by Jennifer Baumgartner.
Enlightening, inspiring, factual.
Enlightening, inspiring, factual.
June 1, 2022
This was fantastic. Very short, and fast moving, but fantastic. I listened on a dog walk and two cycle rides. In a way that was not the best, there are so many moments when I wanted to take notes! I'll probably listen again later.
I have to admit that 3rd Wave feminism has never struck me as coherent or important in the way the the 1st and 2nd waves were. But Baumgardner does an amazing job of situating what makes the 3rd Wave different, and I was particularly enticed by how she explains how these lacks are actually part of the 3rd Wave's strengths.
It's not just 3rd Wave either. Although it was very short I found the first chapter reviewing the history of the 1st and 2nd Wave were fascinating. I'm use to hearing about these from a UK perspective, and the USA one is different.
I have to admit that 3rd Wave feminism has never struck me as coherent or important in the way the the 1st and 2nd waves were. But Baumgardner does an amazing job of situating what makes the 3rd Wave different, and I was particularly enticed by how she explains how these lacks are actually part of the 3rd Wave's strengths.
It's not just 3rd Wave either. Although it was very short I found the first chapter reviewing the history of the 1st and 2nd Wave were fascinating. I'm use to hearing about these from a UK perspective, and the USA one is different.
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December 7, 2022As an impartial account of feminism's developments and shifts in the 1990s, this fails miserably. As an account from an insider of how feminism looked, though, it is a helpful short and illustrative account.
July 1, 2022
It covers a lot in a short while, and does so in a vivid way.
I might be wrong here, but I have two critiques of the work.
Firstly, the author seems reluctant to critique any shortfalls of feminist movements. For instance, she fails to mention the whiteness and privilege of mainstream feminists in certain periods. The writers description of how intersectional and or black feminist propelled the movement forward is thus incomplete and slightly naive. This is handled only slightly better on the trans-front.
Secondly, the book isn't entirely clear on whether it is meant as an objective account of feminist movements or as Baumgardners' own experience.
If it is meant as an objective account, as the title and first half suggest, the second half of the book could have used some rigorous editing. For instance the author's account of fem punk becomes a fan piece for one specific singer, and if you took a shot every time there is a Madonna reference, you would be drunk throughout the book.
It either needed more editing, or, if we are less charitable, the author can't help but see her white, cis, middle class experience of the nineties as typical of the feminist experience.
I might be wrong here, but I have two critiques of the work.
Firstly, the author seems reluctant to critique any shortfalls of feminist movements. For instance, she fails to mention the whiteness and privilege of mainstream feminists in certain periods. The writers description of how intersectional and or black feminist propelled the movement forward is thus incomplete and slightly naive. This is handled only slightly better on the trans-front.
Secondly, the book isn't entirely clear on whether it is meant as an objective account of feminist movements or as Baumgardners' own experience.
If it is meant as an objective account, as the title and first half suggest, the second half of the book could have used some rigorous editing. For instance the author's account of fem punk becomes a fan piece for one specific singer, and if you took a shot every time there is a Madonna reference, you would be drunk throughout the book.
It either needed more editing, or, if we are less charitable, the author can't help but see her white, cis, middle class experience of the nineties as typical of the feminist experience.
July 26, 2021
I found this fascinating in many way. My biggest take away is how one dimensional feminism is when presented by scholarly feminists. The entire code is built on an oppresor/oppressed model and the morality of individualism. While I'm thankful for many of the benefits it's brought to my life, I can also see why many find it appalling. So much lack of nuance in the interpretation of humanity.
October 14, 2025
good, concise overview
December 19, 2025
3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Literally, a book about feminism in the 1990s, USA.
Literally, a book about feminism in the 1990s, USA.
November 4, 2023
Great overview!
July 24, 2022
Solid information for understanding various waves of feminism
January 20, 2022
This book is of extremely low value because the author herself does not understand anything she's talking about. She does not care what the implications of her beliefs are. She does not care whether what she believes in turns out to be true or not. She does not think it's important to consider whether the progress she speaks of really is helpful for women in the long run. Her conception of progress is more akin to change -- really any change, anything but the status quo -- which will breed change that they will find distasteful and attribute to the patriarchy or toxic masculinity. I don't know why cheap rhetoric and this garbled sense of universal victimization passes as a respected philosophy in the west, moreover, it really surprises me how activists take these meaningless slogans and just run with it.
Second- and Third-wave feminisms are a sham, and it's a shame that many men and women support these causes without understanding the Marxist roots underlying them or the very weak philosophical grounding that cannot support anything's weight. It's just slogans: The personal is political, the pink tax, and the rest of the garbled nonsense that would be unacceptable if uttered by a theologian or a physicist, but Marxists and postmodernists always get a free pass, as it seems.
Second- and Third-wave feminisms are a sham, and it's a shame that many men and women support these causes without understanding the Marxist roots underlying them or the very weak philosophical grounding that cannot support anything's weight. It's just slogans: The personal is political, the pink tax, and the rest of the garbled nonsense that would be unacceptable if uttered by a theologian or a physicist, but Marxists and postmodernists always get a free pass, as it seems.
June 23, 2025
3.5 rounded up
An engaging primer into the trajectory of Third Wave Feminism, told with affection. It covers intersectionality, riot grrrl and the reclamation of the ‘girl’, Anita Hill, Hilary Clinton (decried in the media as “grating, abrasive and boastful” - the prime example of the contemporary double standards applied to women), queer intersections, and much more.
The main takeaway is that the third wave was decentralised and leaderless, representing its diverse class and racial base, and it internalised and advanced second wave theory, making it inclusive and ‘cool’ to identify as a feminist. Feminism was not ‘unnecessary’; as Rebecca Walker argued, “I am not a post-feminism feminist. I am the Third Wave”. Walker’s contention that previous moments did not allow for “individuality, complexity or less than perfect personal histories” comes alive here, as Baumgardner outlines a case for the strides Third Wave Feminism made towards intersectionality and political cultural production.
An engaging primer into the trajectory of Third Wave Feminism, told with affection. It covers intersectionality, riot grrrl and the reclamation of the ‘girl’, Anita Hill, Hilary Clinton (decried in the media as “grating, abrasive and boastful” - the prime example of the contemporary double standards applied to women), queer intersections, and much more.
The main takeaway is that the third wave was decentralised and leaderless, representing its diverse class and racial base, and it internalised and advanced second wave theory, making it inclusive and ‘cool’ to identify as a feminist. Feminism was not ‘unnecessary’; as Rebecca Walker argued, “I am not a post-feminism feminist. I am the Third Wave”. Walker’s contention that previous moments did not allow for “individuality, complexity or less than perfect personal histories” comes alive here, as Baumgardner outlines a case for the strides Third Wave Feminism made towards intersectionality and political cultural production.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2022
Great Courses are supposed to give an introduction to a subject, not be a soapbox. This felt too much like activist work.
Not to say that she should not engage in that, but this genre is not the place for it.
In advocating for a lot of positions, she did a poor job of explaining what actually happened to feminism in the 1990's. I did not feel like I left with an understanding of the nuances of the debate during that time period. Partially, this was because it did not really focus on the 1990's. It flitted from the 60's to the 2000's fairly rapidly.
She also had a lot of discussion of race and racism. Maybe that is part of feminism, though she did little to explain how those things were linked. I think that perhaps a long, in-depth argument could have explained how they were related, but this work was just way too short to make that argument convincingly.
Finally, I wish, instead of advocating for particular positions, she would have introduced more points that she disagreed with. She advocates for transwomen being included in feminism. That's fine, and it is a fairly common perspective in feminist circles, but a stronger work would have introduced those who disagreed with that perspective (also common).
Not to say that she should not engage in that, but this genre is not the place for it.
In advocating for a lot of positions, she did a poor job of explaining what actually happened to feminism in the 1990's. I did not feel like I left with an understanding of the nuances of the debate during that time period. Partially, this was because it did not really focus on the 1990's. It flitted from the 60's to the 2000's fairly rapidly.
She also had a lot of discussion of race and racism. Maybe that is part of feminism, though she did little to explain how those things were linked. I think that perhaps a long, in-depth argument could have explained how they were related, but this work was just way too short to make that argument convincingly.
Finally, I wish, instead of advocating for particular positions, she would have introduced more points that she disagreed with. She advocates for transwomen being included in feminism. That's fine, and it is a fairly common perspective in feminist circles, but a stronger work would have introduced those who disagreed with that perspective (also common).
August 2, 2021
This is an insightful look at the history of the feminist movement, especially in the 1990s. It was insightful to explain the different "waves" of feminism, how they were affected by events of the time, and what they changed - including the effects more women in congress started to have. It's ridiculously short, so it seems strange to include in The Great Courses series, but it's still though provoking. Seems like it should be a couple chapters in a much larger work though.
January 29, 2023
This isn’t so much a book for Gen X, because we were there (except the riot grrrl bands that the author is clearly a big fan of; I missed that punk movement entirely, somehow – maybe because I was listening to metal?). But, I do think a lot of the younger generations that don’t think they “need” feminism or have fallen back on the many lies told about what feminism is should listen to this short lecture series.
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March 10, 2024Μια σειρά συνοπτικών διαλέξεων για το τρίτο κύμα φεμινισμού, που κυκλοφορούν προς το παρόν μόνο σε audiobook. Θα ήθελα πιο ενδελεχείς αναλύσεις, αλλά ως εισαγωγική αφετηρία, αποτελεί ιδανικό ξεκίνημα για περαιτέρω έρευνα στο θέμα. Ενδιαφέροντα σημεία υπήρξαν πολλά, όπως για παράδειγμα, η -παραδόξως και σε αντιδιαστολη με τα σεξουαλικα σκανδαλα- ιδιαίτερα φεμινιστικη πολιτική που ακολούθησε ο Κλίντον στο κομμάτι των εκτρώσεων.
September 11, 2022
Really incredible references and further reading, but Baumgardner brings a perfect amount of herself to this series of lectures, so it doesn’t become overwhelming and still feels conversationally professional.
A really educational and interesting listen - would highly recommend!
A really educational and interesting listen - would highly recommend!
February 15, 2021
Good description of the waves of feminism
August 23, 2021
A good overview of third-wave feminism.
April 26, 2022
If you ever needed evidence that feminism is a plague that pushes civilization-killing perversion and degeneracy, then here you go.
November 11, 2022
Explanation the Third Wave, intersectionality, Hillary Clinton, Anita Hill.
I enjoyed it and learned a lot in just 2 hours.
I enjoyed it and learned a lot in just 2 hours.
January 7, 2025
Informative and a good overview on feminism in the 1990s.
April 27, 2025
A must read for a quick history of feminism
August 11, 2025
2.5 ⭐?
June 13, 2023
VERY US-centric but still really enlightening and easy to listen to.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews