Many struggle with the label âfeministâ. Often it is seen as a dirty word, or a strong political view, and sometimes just rejected out of fear for the response. The definition of feminism, as outlined in the Cambridge Dictionary, is âthe belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same wayâ. Which directly states that women deserve the right to be respected in the same way as a man in any way of life. But, a key part of this is how women are perceived.
In 1882, under the Married Womenâs Property Act, married women were legally allowed to buy/sell property and wages independently of their husbands. In 1918, under the Representation of the People Act, women were first allowed to vote. In 1970, under the Equal Pay Act, it was prohibited for wages to be impacted based on sex, considering it was the same role. Yet, we still continue to battle the gender pay gap, often due to external factors such as the glass ceiling, and various other finances men do not face. I believe an important element in this is how women are perceived. Women are still seen to be âless thanâ in many aspects, due to various reasonsâ media, familial tradition, etc.
Although the definition of feminism clearly states women being seen as equal to men, many women still reject itâ refusing to be labelled as a feminist. Statistics from 2018 show that only 34% of women in the UK will openly admit they are a feminist. Is this a result of the backlash they may receive if they announce themselves as a feminist? Or is it ingrained in our minds from a young age that it is âwrongâ or âunattractiveâ to label yourself this way. I remember in school feeling ashamed to call myself a feminist because it would change how I would be perceived by boys in school and I simply didnât know enough about it.
I believe it somewhat stems from stereotypes like how an âoutspokenâ woman is seen as âloudâ and unattractive. In a society where others’ opinions of you are held so highly, what teenager would invite that ridicule? Stereotypes such as: being a feminist means you think you are more important than a man, or feminism is no longer needed, or simply, it makes you look âless feminineâ.
However upsetting this perspective is, there are certain members of our society whose rejection of feminism seems justified. Research into US millennials shows that while African American women, Asian women, and Hispanic women, agree with womenâs rights and equality, they do not identify themselves as feminists as it only furthers a white womanâs goals. The term âintersectional feminismâ was first coined by KimberlĂ© Crenshaw as she demonstrated how there is further discrimination within the framework of feminism. Perhaps this term should be more prevalent in society.