“Feminism” Isn’t a Bad Word
A recent poll found that less than one in five women call themselves feminists.
You have to look far on social media before seeing someone shaming/calling-out feminists. A recent poll found that less than one in five women call themselves feminists. However, in a different study, it was found that while few would call themselves one, 80% of participants said that men and women should be treated equally, with many agreeing sexism is still an issue. Thus indicating while the movement may be agreeable, the word ‘feminism’ is not.
Feminist: a person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I have had many conversations with people who refuse to call themselves feminists but believe the words in the above definition ring true. To them, feminism is associated with misandry and is a movement filled with mostly women who seem hellbent on the destruction of men. Some men feel because of feminism they are losing power. They believe that women already have equality. While others believe the movement has lost its way and that its utility was something only necessary in the past. Like I said above, social media is littered with individuals shaming feminists however the majority of the posts show how little they understand of the movement.
Their posts are saturated with unoriginal stereotypes dating back from the early 1900s. Many people are afraid that by calling themselves a feminist, they will be associated with such traits.
Feminism done right acknowledges; the intersectionality of race, gender and class. It protects transgender women. It doesn’t condone misandry because men should embrace feminism too due to it also helping them.
I believe that all the above are reasons as to why we should stick firmly in calling ourselves, feminists. Feminism isn’t a bad word, those who try to convince you as such are ensuring that the patriarchy wins.
I have been a feminist my whole life, partly due to Destiny’s Child but also due to seeing the disparity between man and woman in my own house. But, I realise that this is easy said and done as a reasonably attractive bi-sexual woman — knowing for certain that these stereotypes will never apply to me — however with or without calling yourself a feminist, these stereotypes will always persist. You don’t have to be a feminist to be called bitter and lonely when unwed. You don’t have to be a feminist to be told you have a bad attitude/ugly. So really, what do you have to lose?
There are a lot of things about feminism that I disagree with. TERF’s for example, I believe do not have the right to call themselves feminists. I also believe white feminism is doing a lot more harm than good to the movement. However, it is because of these things that I call myself one. To be an example of what the movement should be like, though I am very far from perfect.
I believe, as a society, we need to work together to make the movement more inclusive and drain the swamp so to speak. Feminism done right acknowledges; the intersectionality of race, gender and class. It protects transgender women. It doesn’t condone misandry because men should embrace feminism too due to it also helping them.
So I am not going to quit just because some people don’t do it right.
When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression — Franklin Leonard
ZUVA is an award-winning Leeds based spoken word artist, poet and freelance writer. Click here to join her weekly mail list to get her — Comprehensive Guide for True Beginners — Things I Wish I Knew Before Publishing My First Piece. It contains over 16 articles by 12 different authors on everything you need to know before publishing your first piece here.
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