Feminism, in the world of celebrities, is so often misportrayed. We have more famous “white feminists” than we can count on one hand. The world doesn’t need another woman celebrity using her fame to proclaim herself a “feminist” while her actions exhibit quite the opposite, yet here comes Kylie Jenner. When you first think of Kylie Jenner, feminism and activism don’t pop into mind. Instead, you think about her infamous knack for appropriating culture, her underage relationship with Tyga, and her Instagrams that get more likes than there are dollars in my bank account. Kylie Jenner said,
“I do consider myself a feminist. I’m a young woman, for one thing, and I don’t depend on a man or anyone else. I make my own money and start my own businesses, and I feel like I’m an inspiration for a lot of young girls who want to stand on their own.”
I think she doesn’t quite understand what it means to be a feminist and if that is the case, she really shouldn’t be publicly claiming to be a feminist. People will now look to her for examples of what an ideal feminist looks like and I can guarantee that they will be getting the wrong idea.
Being a feminist, as defined by Kylie Jenner, simply means that you are a young, independent, and financially stable woman. None of those things qualify for being a feminist. While it is amazing that Kylie is able to be such a strong and independent woman from such a young age, it has nothing to do with being an activist for human rights or fighting against oppressors. Being able to be a billionaire on your own doesn’t make you a feminist. Not having to borrow money from any one of your celebrity sisters doesn’t make you the starchild for human rights activists. Being in a position of financial power doesn’t automatically mean that you are an advocate for those less fortunate than you.
More so, Kylie Jenner actually represents the fashion and beauty industry, instead of activism. She has both cosmetic and clothes lines that are wildly popular. She is “digital royalty” (as described by Glamour UK) because she has her own video game and mega popularity on social media. There is no doubt that Kylie Jenner is an influential young woman of our time, but calling her a feminist is definitely a reach.
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