Final answer:
Third Wave authors distinguish themselves by focusing on inclusivity, individual agency, and intersectionality, breaking away from previous waves' more uniform approach to feminism and literary representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The differences that set Third Wave authors apart from earlier generations are primarily found in their feminist ideology and approach to storytelling. Third Wave Feminism emerged in the 1990s and early 2000s, advocating for women to define for themselves what gender justice and feminism means. This new wave aimed to be more inclusive in terms of race, ethnicity, and social class, while also rejecting the idea of a single feminist ideal. In contrast to the second wave, which focused on legal and economic equality, Third Wave authors often address intersectionality and seek to celebrate diversity and individual agency in defining liberation.
In literature, Third Wave authors and advocates, like bell hooks, highlight the complexities of defining feminism, acknowledging that it can't be confined to one narrative or experience. This differs from earlier feminist waves, which tended to promote a more homogenized view of women's liberation centered primarily around white middle-class struggles. Third Wave authors' works often incorporate themes that reveal the aftereffects of the first and second wave victories, while also pushing boundaries further by discussing ongoing injustices and celebrating individual stories.