postfeminist
UK[ˌpəʊstˈfemɪnɪst]US[ˌpoʊstˈfemɪnɪst]
adj
Relating to or characteristic of a movement or set of ideas that developed after the height of feminism in the late 20th century, often questioning or moving beyond its established principles.
n
A person who holds or advocates for postfeminist ideas.
Morpheme Breakdown
post
feminist
post
after
feminist
advocate of feminism
Etymology
The term "postfeminist" is a modern compound formed within the English language. It combines the Latin-derived prefix "post-," meaning "after," with the 19th-century word "feminist," which itself originates from Latin femina (woman). The construction follows a straightforward chronological model common in academic and cultural discourse, where "post-" signals a critical engagement with or a perceived evolution beyond a preceding movement. Thus, the literal "after-feminism" logically denotes ideas or a period situated after the peak of feminist activism, often involving a reassessment of its goals and assumptions.
Analysis
Structure: post (after) + feminist (advocate of feminism)
- post: From Latin post ("after, behind"). A prefix indicating subsequence in time or order.
- feminist: From Latin femina ("woman") + the English suffix -ist (denoting an adherent to a doctrine or practice). The base "femin-" relates to women.
Examples
The article analyzed postfeminist themes in contemporary popular culture.
She identifies as a postfeminist, arguing that the movement now needs to address more complex intersections of identity.
The film was criticized for its postfeminist sensibility that seemed to take women's equality for granted.