Feminism is the belief that women and men should be politically, socially, and economically equal. While to most of us that seems like a no-brainer, feminism hasn’t always been welcomed in the way it is today. In the past few years, feminism has moved from being viewed as a dirty word to a label and belief system that women and men have begun to embrace. A large portion of this newfound acceptance of feminism has come from celebrities actively advocating and publicizing their feminist views. Here are the top celebs who helped further the movement this year:
1. Hillary Clinton
Regardless of your political views or whether you’ll be checking her name on your ballot in 2016, Hillary Clinton has been making strides for feminism all year (and obviously long before that). In her interview with Lena Dunham for Lenny Letter, Hillary said, “I’m a feminist, and I say it whenever I’m asked. I’m always a little bit puzzled when any woman, of whatever age but particularly a young woman, says something like, ‘Well, I believe in equal rights, but I’m not a feminist.’” Hillary Clinton’s unapologetic use of the word ‘feminism’ has us all jumping for joy, and inspired us to loudly proclaim that we are feminists, too.
2. Amy Schumer
Feminist and comedian extraordinaire, Amy Schumer is unbashedly unafraid to be funny and feminist, two things that not long ago many people wouldn’t have believed could coexist. In her hit Comedy Central show Inside Amy Schumer and her movie Trainwreck Amy tackles hard-hitting issues such as sexist stereotypes, rape culture, equal pay, harmful gender stereotypes and reproductive rights. Using satire in a smart, relatable way, Amy creates an accessible space where large, often daunting issues can be discussed and understood, and we think it’s absolutely fab.
3. Emma Watson
After her iconic United Nations speech in support of the #HeForShe campaign, which aims to unite women and men as feminists to fight for gender equality, how could we not include Emma on our list? After saying in an interview with Porter Magazine that she had been discouraged from using the word “feminist” in her speech and choosing to do so anyways, Emma has our heart. She was quoted in Porter as saying, “If women are terrified to use the word, how on earth are men supposed to start using it?” and we couldn’t agree more. Keep doing you, Emma!
4. Lena Dunhan
Lena has been widely discussed in feminist circles for a handful of years now, but with her new project the Lenny Letter she is right back in the limelight. Lena’s Lenny Letter describes itself as “a snark-free place for feminists to get information: on how to vote, eat, dress, fuck, and live better,” and we think that’s totally dreamy. Lena never fails to amaze, and what she’s doing with Lenny Letter is no different.
5. Emma Thompson
Oscar award-winning actress Emma Thompson says she has been a “card-carrying, radical feminist” since she was 19, which is why she takes offense when women don’t label themselves as such. In an interview with Vulture she says, “It’s bizarre. Any woman who says they’re not a feminist is basically saying that they don’t believe in equal rights for women.” We love how Emma is so blunt about what feminism is.
6. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt said his choice to identify as a feminist comes from the fact that there’s more work that needs to be done to help achieve equality. He says: “There were some people that were saying that feminism made sense in the past but it doesn’t anymore because men and women are equal now. I’m no expert, but I think the facts are pretty contrary to this. There are still plenty of tensions and unfair situations that arise more so for women than for men.” We love how Joseph is using his celebrity status to share that message.
7. Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling says he’s “attracted to films that have strong female characters because there are strong female characters in my life.” Gosling has said that female equality is important to him now more than ever after becoming the father of a baby girl. He says feminism and female equality “are becoming not more important to me, but more important in general, I think” and we totally agree.
8. Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler is fantastically feminist in her comedy, but what we’ve been most excited about in 2015 is Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, a website that encourages girls to “change the world by being yourself.” The site says that it’s “dedicated to helping young people cultivate their authentic selves. We emphasize intelligence and imagination over ‘fitting in.’ We celebrate curiosity over gossip. We are a place where people can truly be their weird and wonderful selves. We are funny first, and informative second, hosting the party you want to attend.” And if that doesn’t sound amazing and feminist to you, we don’t know what does! Thanks for creating such an amazing space for young women, Amy.
9. Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence penned an amazing essay this year for Lena Dunham’s Lenny Letter about her feelings on the gender wage gap. When she found out that she was making less money than her male counterparts for the same work, she admitted she blamed herself. She is the first to admit that she is not upset about the lost money she could’ve potentially earned, but rather the pay discrepancy because of her gender. At the end of her letter, Lawrence writes, “I’m over trying to find the ’adorable’ way to state my opinion and still be likable! Fuck that. I don’t think I’ve ever worked for a man in charge who spent time contemplating what angle he should use to have his voice heard. It’s just heard.” We love her fiery passion for equal pay!
We SO appreciate all the celebrities who have spoken in favor of feminism in 2015 and have worked to address the inequalities currently present in our world. We can’t wait to see the strides feminism makes in 2016!