Demystifying the F-word
With so much misinformation around, Madeleine Dooley explores what it means to be a feminist
Over the past few years there has been an increasing trend to judge feminism wrongfully as a concept that is somehow ‘man-hating’. This sort of labelling is not right and is not helpful - more importantly, it is ruining society’s perception of feminism – and leading to a decline in the number of people prepared to describe themselves as feminists.
Feminism is not man-hating and anyone saying it is needs to stop. We are now at a point where people are avoiding associating themselves with feminism and using sexist, stereotypical language (for example, at it's worst, adopting Andrew Tate's kind of thinking that ‘Women should stay in the kitchen and clean all day.”)
A number of people, many of whom are teenage boys, seem to think it's okay to use rude and insulting language towards women. Even though the language is meant to insult somebody, most young girls - around age 11-16 - tend to just shrug it off and laugh at it by treating it as a joke without actually regarding the deeply offensive connotations it has about women's role in society, and how detrimental to the girls’ mental health these ideas can be. We need to challenge sexist language and ideas so that people understand they are not acceptable.
As a result of the current culture, feminism seems to be sinking in popularity among young women and men which can seriously impact the lives of women and men who ARE feminists – as they are constantly being misjudged by their peers regarding the meaning of the cause they stand for. Feminism is first and foremost a movement for equality. While gender inequality still exists - in stereotypes, in pay, in opportunities, in personal safety - feminism is an essential cause for us all.
The actor Emma Watson, who played Hermione in the Harry Potter films, said:
“I decided I was a feminist, and this seemed uncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Apparently, I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and, unattractive.
Why is the word such an uncomfortable one?
I am from Britain and think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly, I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights.”
These are the rights that feminists fight for. Rmember that feminism is a good thing fighting for a good, impactful cause, and never bad or negative in the way some people like to paint it out to be!
By Madeleine Dooley, 8T
Over the past few years there has been an increasing trend to judge feminism wrongfully as a concept that is somehow ‘man-hating’. This sort of labelling is not right and is not helpful - more importantly, it is ruining society’s perception of feminism – and leading to a decline in the number of people prepared to describe themselves as feminists.
Feminism is not man-hating and anyone saying it is needs to stop. We are now at a point where people are avoiding associating themselves with feminism and using sexist, stereotypical language (for example, at it's worst, adopting Andrew Tate's kind of thinking that ‘Women should stay in the kitchen and clean all day.”)
A number of people, many of whom are teenage boys, seem to think it's okay to use rude and insulting language towards women. Even though the language is meant to insult somebody, most young girls - around age 11-16 - tend to just shrug it off and laugh at it by treating it as a joke without actually regarding the deeply offensive connotations it has about women's role in society, and how detrimental to the girls’ mental health these ideas can be. We need to challenge sexist language and ideas so that people understand they are not acceptable.
As a result of the current culture, feminism seems to be sinking in popularity among young women and men which can seriously impact the lives of women and men who ARE feminists – as they are constantly being misjudged by their peers regarding the meaning of the cause they stand for. Feminism is first and foremost a movement for equality. While gender inequality still exists - in stereotypes, in pay, in opportunities, in personal safety - feminism is an essential cause for us all.
The actor Emma Watson, who played Hermione in the Harry Potter films, said:
“I decided I was a feminist, and this seemed uncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Apparently, I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and, unattractive.
Why is the word such an uncomfortable one?
I am from Britain and think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly, I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights.”
These are the rights that feminists fight for. Rmember that feminism is a good thing fighting for a good, impactful cause, and never bad or negative in the way some people like to paint it out to be!
By Madeleine Dooley, 8T