History of Feminism in India

The Forerunner of Feminism is a term often used for the women who laid the groundwork for the modern feminist movement. From ancient times, women had to fight for their rights and their voices to be heard. In the 1800s, suffrage movements emerged and the earliest forms of feminism emerged. But it was the forerunners of the modern feminist movement—the women who fought for equal rights and recognition for women—that paved the way for the feminist movement today.

The earliest known forerunner of feminism was Margaret Sanger, who founded the American Birth Control League in 1921. She was a strong advocate of contraceptives and women’s reproductive rights. Sanger is credited with helping to pave the way for women’s sexual freedom and to advocate for contraception information and access. 

Another forerunner of feminism was the British duo of Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter, Mary Shelley. In 1791, Wollstonecraft published her book, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, which argued that education and economic independence were crucial to the advancement of women in society. Mary Shelley, author of the gothic novel Frankenstein, furthered her mother’s radical message and championed female education.

The early women’s suffrage movement was also a forerunner of modern feminism, largely in the United States and Britain. In the 19th century, activists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony campaigned for the right for women to vote and for more equal opportunities for women to participate in politics. They argued that women were just as capable as men of participating in politics and that society should recognize their rights as citizens. 

Finally, the first wave of modern feminism of the 1970s was led by figures like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem. Friedan published The Feminine Mystique in 1963, which was the first book to user the phrase “feminism” and which popularized the notion that women were oppressed by their roles in society. Through her work, Friedan laid the foundations of the feminist movement. Steinem, a journalist, was also a strong advocate of women’s rights, particularly concerning reproductive freedom. 

The forerunners of feminism laid the groundwork for the modern feminist movement. By standing up for women’s rights and setting the tone of the dialogue on feminism in the 1800s and early 20th century, these women opened the door for later feminists to continue the progress for gender equality.

The history of feminism in India tracks the cultural, political and academic discourse of the feminist movement in India, which started in the late 19th century. It was roughly divided into three periods: pre-independence (1850–1947), immediate post-independence (1947–1979) and modern feminist period (1980-present).

Pre-Independence (1850 - 1947)

The early feminist movement in India was marked by significant achievements in trying to repeal unjust laws and gaining parity between the genders. Feminists such as Rukmini Lakshmipathi in the Madras Presidency successfully campaigned for the right of child widows to remarry in 1910. In addition, influential figures like Sarojini Naidu and Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain set up organisations like The All India Women’s Conference, a non-sectarian organisation which drew attention to the needs of Indian women.

Immediate Post-Independence (1947 - 1979)

Feminism in India gained momentum after independence in 1947 when the state decided to protect women’s rights on a wider scale, giving rise to important economic, political, and educational advancements. Women’s rights in terms of political representation, rights over their property, inheritance rights and marital rights were implemented in the Indian constitution.

Modern Feminist Period (1980 - Present)

Feminism in modern India has evolved significantly in the 21st century. In recent decades, women-led organisations and campaigns have been pushing for gender equality in a range of issues including reproductive health, violence against women, workplace rights, equal pay and sexual violence. Important milestones of feminist progress in India include the passing of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013; the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2008; and the passing of the 94th Amendment to the Constitution giving one-third of India’s parliamentary seats to women. India has also achieved some other successes including the passing of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and the passing of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.