Feminism - Etymology

Etymology

Feminism is a relatively recent term and is as a nineteenth-century neologism, although some of its adherents would maintain that its roots extend far back in history. French philosopher Charles Fourier is credited with having originated the word feminism in 1837. The terms "feminism" or "feminist" first appeared in France and The Netherlands in 1872 (as les féministes), Great Britain in the 1890s, and the United States in 1910. The Oxford English Dictionary lists 1894 for the first appearance of "feminist" and 1895 for "feminism".

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