Final answer:
The fourth wave of feminism is characterized by its digital activism, inclusive approach to gender identity, and advocacy for sexual autonomy. It builds upon the foundations laid by preceding waves, especially the critiques of systemic sexism emphasized by second-wave feminism and the diverse inclusivity promoted by third-wave feminism. This wave illustrates the evolution of feminist thought and action within the modern digital landscape.
Step-by-step explanation:
The argument that we are now in a fourth wave of feminism is based on a concept that began to take shape in the digital age and tends to focus on a variety of issues including gender identity, intersectionality, and social media activism. The fourth wave significantly diverges from the earlier waves by harnessing technology to advance feminist goals and by emphasizing the empowerment of women through digital campaigns and networking. While second-wave feminism, sparked by the publication of The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, targeted college-educated women on the East Coast and championed for bodily freedoms and the critique of systemic sexism, and third-wave feminism focused on deeper cultural issues of patriarchy and inclusivity, the fourth wave moves further to advocate for fluid gender identities, sexual autonomy, and combatting online harassment.
Notably, third-wave feminism had already paved the way for challenging the gender binary and promoting sex positivity, thereby setting the groundwork for the current fourth wave's broader conceptualization of gender and justice. Additionally, while first-wave feminism battled for legal rights such as suffrage, and second-wave feminism expanded its causes to socio-economic discrimination, the current wave includes a continuum of the earlier waves' issues but with a modern contextualization to the digital era.
The ongoing debate about whether to continue categorizing feminism into distinct waves reflects the complex, evolving nature of feminist movements. Nonetheless, as feminism develops, its core principles of advocating for women's rights and gender equality remain fundamental to understanding its various waves.