Feminism is defined as the movement of people “[who] advocate for social, political, legal, and economic rights for women equal to those of men.” This definition is a simple one; people of any/all genders should be equal, no matter what. It is also the acknowledgment that women are not yet equal to men. It is a word that entails fighting for something we do not yet have. However, this definition is often misinterpreted and twisted around to be something it is not. Somehow, especially in the millennial generation, “feminist” has become a bad word; one that holds a negative and bitter meaning. We have to get over the idea that being called a feminist by someone with a venomous tongue is an insult, and we need to get over being offended by getting called this, even if it is said with ill intent.
If you’re an outspoken person on the topic of social justice or being a feminist; you’re more than likely to have seen or heard it, directed at you or not. “They’re a feminist though…” whispered angrily behind your back. Sometimes it is used as a legitimate reason for hating someone. Other times it’s people who think your belief in intersectional feminism is a pointless fight, and that women are already more equal than they ever have been to men. The first time you hear it, you’re confused. It’s a moment you’ll remember, one that makes you question why feminists are not the majority. You’ll think: feminism isn’t a bad thing.
You want all genders, people of color, religions, and people in the LGBTQA+ community to have the rights they should. What’s so bad about that?
Even other women have felt the need to distance themselves from the feminist movement as a cause of this. They feel the need to let the world know they support women’s rights, LGBTQA+ rights, and POC rights; but that they are not feminists. We’ve seen people of immense fame, like Shailene Woodley, do it. When asked if she considered herself a feminist, her response was “No because I love men, and I think the idea of ‘raise women to power, take the men away from the power’ is never going to work out because you need balance.” Her response is not unique if we look at celebrities outlooks on feminism. The issue in responses such as this is the blatant misunderstanding of feminism. Balance and equality is the goal. Not taking away from any one gender. Whether this dissociation is to keep their reputation in good light, appease those who use it as an insult, or in hopes of not alienating the many people who think feminism is an overworked fight; it is not something that should be normalized. The word holds no legitimate negative connotation in reality. However, it has become a sort of curse word for homophobic, sexist, and racist people to throw towards those trying to promote equality.
Not only is “feminist” used as an insult, it has also been twisted to create slurs. Feminists who fight endlessly and dedicate themselves to social justice are often coined as “feminazis”. A word meant to define an advocate who takes their advocacy too far, or is asking too much of the world, was created by Limbaugh in 1992 when he said he felt the need to call obnoxious women who perpetuated the modern day Holocaust of abortion what they really were; not feminists, but feminazis. Not only an outrageous comparison to a group that murdered millions of innocent people due to their religion, it is both offensive and ridiculous. The fact it caught on, morphed into a more general word for social justice warriors, and caught momentum, is just as disturbing as the fact someone ever said this, and believed in it.
The only way to eventually end this idea that feminism could be a bad quality in any human, a bad word, or a generally negative thing, is simple. Continue being one. Continue fighting for what is right. Be proud of your feminism, and voice it whenever and wherever you can. Use your voice as often as humanly possible, and let no one tell you that your fight for equality is something that makes you any less of an amazing person. Your fight for intersectional feminism is a beautiful quality that you should flaunt, not hide in fear, because some have decided to make it into a insult. Use the feminist label if you please, and don’t allow anybody to tell you otherwise.
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