A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

Which wave of feminism began around 2012?

1. First-wave feminism

2. Second-wave feminism

3. Third-wave feminism

4. Fourth-wave feminism

The correct answer is: Fourth-wave feminism

The correct choice, which identifies the wave of feminism that began around 2012, is fourth-wave feminism. This wave is characterized by its focus on issues such as sexual harassment, body shaming, and online misogyny, leveraging social media as a platform for activism and advocacy. The emergence of this wave aligns with significant social movements, notably the #MeToo movement, which brought attention to sexual violence and harassment in various spheres of life. Fourth-wave feminism also emphasizes intersectionality, acknowledging how different aspects of identity, such as race, class, and sexuality, intersect with gender issues. The use of digital technology has allowed for the rapid dissemination of feminist ideas and facilitated mobilization, setting it apart from previous waves. First-wave feminism, primarily concerned with legal issues and inequalities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, does not align with the contemporary concerns of fourth-wave feminism. Second-wave feminism, which focused on issues such as reproductive rights and workplace equality from the 1960s onward, differs in its methodologies and sociopolitical context. Third-wave feminism, emerging in the 1990s, started to address more complex ideas of identity, but still does not encapsulate the influence of modern digital activism as seen in the fourth