A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

The primary focus of first-wave feminism centers around legal rights and suffrage. This movement, which took place mainly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, aimed specifically at addressing the inequalities faced by women, particularly in relation to legal rights and the right to vote. Early feminists campaigned vigorously for women's suffrage, advocating for the right to participate in the political process and seeking changes in laws that discriminated against women. The achievements of first-wave feminism were instrumental in securing voting rights for women in several countries, laying the groundwork for subsequent feminist movements that would address broader issues such as social and economic equality. In contrast, while social change through awareness raising and political activism were important in subsequent feminist waves, the pressing need for legal recognition and the fundamental right to vote characterized the primary aims of first-wave feminism.