Explain about history of French feminist movement.

The feminist movement (also known as the women's liberation movement, the women's movement, or feminism) refers to a series of campaigns for reforms on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, women's suffrage, sexual harassment, and sexual violence, all of which fall under the label of feminism. The movement's priorities vary among nations and communities and range from opposition to female genital mutilation in one country to opposition to the glass ceiling in another.

Feminism in parts of the western world has gone through three waves. First-wave feminism was oriented around the station of middle- or upper-class white women and involved suffrage and political equality. Second-wave feminism attempted to further combat social and cultural inequalities. Third-wave feminism is continuing to address the financial, social and cultural inequalities and includes renewed campaigning for greater influence of women in politics and media. In reaction to political activism, feminists have also had to maintain focus on women's reproductive rights, such as the right to abortion.

History
Main article: History of feminism
Feminism in the United States, Canada and a number of countries in western Europe has been divided into three waves by feminist scholars: first, second and third-wave feminism.Recent (early 2010s) research suggests there may be a fourth wave characterized, in part, by new media platforms.

French women's contributions
The feminist movement can be traced back to the 14th century when Christine de Pizan, a French poet, became one of the first female artists to make a living through writing. With the help of the French Revolution a fever for change sparked among French women. One French writer, Olympe de Gouge, became famous for her work The Declaration of the Right of Woman and Citizen during the French Revolution. De Gouge’s declaration starts “woman is born free and remains equal to man in her rights.” She argues in her writing that women should have equality in all areas of life such as education, government, employment and the judicial systems. Many view de Gouge as the founder of the French feminist movement.

The women’s movement became more popular in May 1968 when a defender of women’s rights, Simone de Beauvoir, began to write pieces that explained why it was difficult for talented women to become successful. The obstacles de Beauvoir writes about include women’s inability to make as much money as men do in the same profession, women’s domestic responsibilities, society’s lack of support towards talented women, and women’s fear that success will lead to an annoyed husband or prevent them from even finding a husband at all. De Beauvoir also argues that woman lack ambition because of how they are raised. Girls are told to follow the duties of their mothers, whereas boys are told to exceed the accomplishments of their fathers. Simone de Beauvoir’s work made the feminist movement erupt causing the formation of Le Mouvement de Libération des Femmes (The Women’s Liberation Movement). This determined group of women wanted to turn her ideas into actions. Contributors to The Women’s Liberation Movement include Simone de Beauvoir, Christiane Rochefort, Christine Delphy and Anne Tristan. Through actions the women were able to get few equal rights for example right to education, right to work, and right to vote. One of the most important issues that The Women’s Liberation movement faced was the banning of abortion and contraception. The women saw this banning as a violation of women’s rights and were determined to fight it. Thus, the women made a declaration known as Le Manifests de 343 which held signatures from 343 women admitting to having had an illegal abortion. The declaration got published in Le Nouvel Observateur and Le Monde, two French newspapers on 5 April 1971. The group gained support upon the publication. Women received the right to abort with the passing of the Veil Law in 1975.