This next generation is full of feminists to look up to!
Feminism is still making its way through the millennial generation, but it’s also spilling over into the younger generation. Stars and public figures young girls are familiar with are taking a stand and influencing the next generation of feminists. Everyone from Rowan Blanchard to Amandla Stenberg, from Zendaya to Tavi Gevinson are making a huge impact through words and actions.
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Rowan Blanchard
Best known for her role on Disney’s Girl Meets World, Blanchard headlines when she posted an essay about feminism on Tumblr. In her essay she explained “white feminism” and addressed it by saying that it very often omits other races, genders, and sexualities. This 13 year old actress has a tight grasp on concepts that some “feminists” and adults can’t even understand. She hit the nail on the head on issues that some don’t really pay attention to until adulthood or college. Extremely impressive!
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Amandla Stenberg Rue in The Hunger Games hasn’t been silent when it comes to intersectional feminism, cultural appropriation, and Black Lives Matter. While Stenberg is very talented, she has become much known for her advocacy which is why she’s one of Hollywood’s prominent feminists. While Kylie Jenner was getting attention for her ever growing lips and dreadlocks, Amandla publically called her out on Instagram. This started debates on what was to be deemed “cultural appropriation.” She even posted a popular Youtube video about appropriation. To add to her lengthy feminist resume, she has encouraged girls to go into STEM.
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Jazz Jennings This 15 year old transgender girl has been quite the advocate for the visibility of the transgender community. When she was only six years old, she came out to Barbra Walters. That was a time where not many people were talking about this. We simply ignored it. It’s important that feminists are inclusive to all and the visibility and progress of the trans community is part of what we stand for. She’s changed the way we view trans lives by using her fame for good.
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Zendaya The 19 year old singer and actress has had quite the year. For starters she publicly dealt with racist remarks from E!’s Fashion Police panel in the classiest way one could. Later on in the year, she got her own Barbie doll that resembled the Oscar’s look that was shamed. Zendaya is also a total feminist with a definition that rocks! Zendaya told Flare magazine, “a feminist is a person who believes in the power of women just as much as they believe in the power of anyone else. Its equality, it’s fairness, and I think it’s a great thing to be a part of.” She’s a feminist who inspires young girls to love themselves.
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Tavi Gevinson A teen who has been making waves since she was just a preteen, Gevinson is also an incredible feminist. She literally founded her own online fashion magazine: Rookie! At age 11, she started a fashion blog and found herself near some of the biggest names (like Anna Wintour!). After the success of her fashion blog, she started discussing feminism at age 15. Gevinson gave a TED Talk in which she discussed feminism and it’s a must watch. The coolest thing about her is that she’s a confused and honest feminist. She doesn’t believe that it can be defined in one way for everyone.
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Jaden Smith Will Smith’s son, one of the coolest and most interesting people on the internet, has taken on feminism. While he hasn’t outright called himself a “feminist,” he’s been breaking down gender roles and challenging masculinity. He made headlines for donning what many perceived to be a dress. He posted the Instagram caption, “Went To TopShop To Buy Some Girl Clothes, I Mean Clothes.” He was attacked by tabloids for simply wearing a dress because, you know, dresses will make you, uh, less masculine, right?! (Uh?) In true Jaden Smith fashion, he just did not care and reminds us all that neither should we. Clothes don’t define us, neither do standards.