Final answer:
Feminism advocates for gender equality, while patriarchy is a system where men dominate. Examples of patriarchy include the gender wage gap and unequal political representation. Different waves of feminism critique and build upon each other, evolving the movement over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Feminism is a social theory or political movement supporting the equality of both sexes in all aspects of public and private life; specifically, a theory or movement that argues for the removal of legal and social restrictions on females to bring about such equality. On the other hand, patriarchy refers to a system of social inequality based on gender, in which men are typically in positions of power, and characteristics associated with femininity are undervalued. Examples of patriarchy in everyday society include the wage gap between men and women, unequal representation in political spheres, and societal expectations that prioritize men's decisions over women's.
The different waves of feminism, namely the first, second, third, and potentially the fourth, address a variety of gender-related issues and build upon one another. The first wave focused primarily on suffrage and property rights; the second wave expanded to issues of equality, sexuality, and legal inequalities; the third wave highlighted the complexity of gender and critiqued the rigidity of gender binaries, advocating for more fluid understandings of gender and sexual autonomy. Each subsequent wave has questioned and critiqued the approaches or limitations of previous waves, leading to an evolution of feminist thought and action.