First wave

First Wave Feminists did not identify as feminists or first wavers. They were the brave women who fought for the right to vote. Women like Susan B. Anthony, Mary Wollstonecraft and Sojourner Truth could be noted as examples of early feminists. First wave women can be classified as women who sought for equal rights with men. Many of this early feminist thinking was inspired by Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire.

It should also be noted that there were radical women from the very beginning. Emma Goldman, also known as Red Emma, was one of them. Emma was an anarchist who fought for reproductive rights.

If you take the class "Philosophy of Feminism" with Prof William Young, you will read and discuss first wave feminist texts.

Works to read

Clicking links will take you to the Seymour Library catalog page for each selection

• "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" by Mary Wollstonecraft
• Any speech by Truth
• Letters to John Adams from Abigail Adams

Notable Quotes

• It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. -Susan B. Anthony
• I do not wish them [women] to have power over men, but over themselves. -Mary Wollstonecraft
• If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal. -Emma Goldman