The history of feminism in the West is typically divided into a “first wave,” a “second wave,” and a “third wave” to describe women's involvement in social movements that brought about dramatic transformations in their access to social, political, educational, and economic opportunities from the late nineteenth century to the present. This entry critically examines the “wave” metaphor as it has been used by academics and details the major theoretical work, epistemologies, and political practices associated with each wave of feminism, paying particular attention to the United States.