What Is The Difference Between Womanism And Feminism?
Women are one of the most oppressed sections of society. No matter how many reforms you bring in, the patriarchal society refuses to budge in. Here, we look into womanism vs. feminism, two movements that were started to fight for women’s rights.
Yes, women had to fight for basic rights like opting for birth control, opening a bank account, practicing law, serving jury duty, or even watching the Olympics. Even the most fundamental right — the right to vote — was given recently. What’s more? There are still places where women are not allowed to do the most basic things. Instead, they are being persecuted day in and day out and treated as second-grade citizens. Even in the most advanced countries of the world, the negative attitude of a few patriarchal people makes it difficult for women to carry out their daily functions.
To fight against this oppression, women raised their voices and started movements worldwide that forced many governments to make reforms. But, unfortunately, these reforms will be limited to papers until there is a real change in society. Continue reading to understand womanism and feminism in detail.
In This Article
What Is Womanism?
What Is Feminism?
So What Is The Difference Between Womanism And Feminism?
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways
What Is Womanism?

The term ‘womanism’ was coined in 1983 by Alice Walker, an American poet, activist and author of the critically acclaimed novel The Color Purple. It was a reaction to the realization that feminism did not encompass the perspectives and experiences of black women.
As segregation had only ended in 1964, the black community – especially black women – were still enduring the brunt of socioeconomic discrimination, classism, and racism. Traditionally, the feminist movement lacked diversity and was mainly dominated by middle- and upper-class white women. It failed to address the plight of black women and rarely involved women of color in its protests. In light of the elitist nature of the initial feminist movement, womanism came into the picture. Read More...