Tearing Down Feminist Stereotypes

An Angry Fem Rant by Taylor Holmes

Man hater

Bra burner

Angry

Hairy

Dyke

These and many other negative words seem to have become synonymous with feminism in today’s society. If the most common definition of feminism is: the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men…we must ask ourselves what kinds of people would resort to that name calling of feminists?
 

Misogynists, that’s who.

Let’s take Emma Watson’s recent speech to the UN for example. Emma used her privilege as a well known actress to call everyone (regardless of gender) to join the movement for the equality of women. In response to Emma’s amazing speech, ‘Men’s Rights Activists’ threatened to release nude photos of her. Think about that for a minute. Some men were so threatened by Emma “coming out as a feminist” that they resorted to threatening to exploit her body and some even went so far as to spread a rumor that she had been murdered. It’s hard to believe that we live in a world where women advocating for their own rights are responded to with death threats. What does that say about our society?
 

I am not a man hater, I am not a bra burner, and I still shave my armpits but I am definitely angry. I am angry because it is 2014 and I still see women getting cat called on a daily basis. I am angry because women are still told that it was their own fault they were sexually assaulted. I am angry because women only get paid 77 cents for every dollar that a man makes. I am angry because why the fuck should it matter if a woman is a bra burner, hairy, or a butch lesbian? Society seems to be so concerned with confining women to their restrictive undergarments, shaving or waxing all of their body hair, and only having their sexuality somehow be related to men. With these and many more societal norms that women are expected to adhere to, it’s no wonder that I and many other women are angry.

After having taken multiple Women’s Studies classes and becoming aware of the various issues women face on a daily basis, I have already gone through several phases…

First I was in disbelief. Surely women couldn’t be this oppressed in the 21^st century, right?

Next I became angry. Why on earth do people not care about these issues?

Then I got discouraged. No one seems to care about fighting for women’s rights so what’s the point?

Now I have settled here, back at angry. I have come to the determination that the door to consciousness only swings one way and now that I have become aware to just how bad women around the world have it, I can’t help but stand up and say something about it. I can’t help but critically analyze media that I am constantly surrounded by to question the hyper sexualized portrayal of women. I can’t help but speak up about victim blaming when people always seem to first ask what she was wearing. I can’t help but raise questions about why women still face discrimination in the workplace.

I have no problem being labeled as an angry feminist because it means that I care. I will no longer ignore the oppression women constantly face. So call me an angry feminist…I have a right to be.

If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.