ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

First wave feminism

Okay kiddo, let me tell you all about first wave feminism.

Basically, a long time ago, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, women didn't have the same rights as men. They couldn't vote, they didn't have the same job opportunities, and they were generally treated unfairly. But a lot of women didn't think that was fair, and they started fighting to change it.

The first wave of feminism was about getting women the right to vote. That was a big deal because it meant that women would have a say in how their country was run. Imagine if you weren't allowed to choose what you wanted to eat for dinner, or what game you wanted to play. That's kind of what it was like for women. So women got together and protested, and they worked really hard to make everyone see that women should be able to vote.

It wasn't just about voting, though. First wave feminists also wanted women to have the same opportunities as men. They wanted women to be able to go to school and get an education, and to be able to have jobs that weren't just "women's jobs."

Some of the famous people who helped make this happen were Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul. They talked to people, wrote articles and books, and even got arrested sometimes for what they believed in. But they kept fighting, and eventually, their hard work paid off.

In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed, which gave women the right to vote. It was a big victory for first wave feminism, but there was still work to be done. Discrimination against women still existed, and it took a long time for things to get better.

So there you have it, kiddo. First wave feminism was all about fighting for women's rights, especially the right to vote. But it was also about making sure that women had the same opportunities as men, and could live their lives in the way they wanted to.