Like, Totally A Feminist: Why You Can Wear Glitter And Still Be A Badass
Running the world? What, like it’s hard?
by CHLOE HECHTER ★ JULY 1, 2020
I am a firm believer in the power of a weekly manicure. I have an unnecessarily vast collection of pink tank tops, and I’ve been told that I occasionally leave a trail of glitter wherever I go. I giggle constantly, I gossip with my girlfriends, and I can’t throw a ball to save my life. But I’m totally a feminist.
Let’s break down the “feminist” stereotype. Over the years, the term “feminist” has grown to be seen as “unattractive, unfeminine bra-burners who hate sex,” but there are a few more generalizations that people fail to recognize. The bottom line is that being that a feminist can look like anything; whether it’s finding the perfect dress or starting a revolution, women can use their feminist title to preach what feminism really means: having equal rights and the freedom and power to make your own choices. People tend to mock women who demonstrate more “feminine” qualities, but caring about “girly things” should not be trivialized. What is important to you only concerns you and your own well-being, and you are no weaker than anyone else because of it; find your own balance between high heels and being a stereotype-shattering heroine.
Women are often told to act “ladylike,” to dress modestly, and not to interfere with male success. That being said, we are also told to strut our stuff and exude confidence and try not to be “like the other girls.” With society practically shouting such conflicting messages at us, it’s impossible to feel like we’re doing what’s “right;” as a girl, a feminist, or a person. True feminism is the power to tune out the voice in the back of your head that tells you what you should be doing, and accept the fact that you can do whatever you want.
A popular fictional character that comes to mind in reclaiming the term “feminist” is Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. Carrie loves Manolos, mimosas, and men, and yet the ladies of Sex and the City preach the narrative that women can do it all.
These women exhibit authentic female behaviors that should be normalized rather than criticized. Do women need men to validate them? Absolutely not. Do women need to feel bad for getting upset over surface-level issues every once in a while? Absolutely not. However you are feeling in a particular moment is completely warranted, and there is definitely no need to feel stupid because you cried over Chad From That One Time not texting you back, because truth be told, we’ve all been there—there should be no shame in admitting it. Don’t belittle your emotions just because you seem more brave when you do so—crying in the shower to a little T-Swizzle doesn’t make you any less of a feminist, it just makes you in touch with your feelings.
Credit: giphy
Beyond that, being a feminist is not limited to being female-identifying. Feminists can be a person of any gender, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic class, so long as they believe in the intersectional equality of the sexes. The #MenAreTrash movement leads the media to further buy into the myth that anyone who calls themself a feminist has the singular goal to “destroy the patriarchy,” when in reality, the frontrunners of this movement only represent a small fraction of feminists. An article on Bustle discusses “7 Things the Word ‘Feminist’ Does NOT Mean,” including the beliefs that women are superior to men and that feminine things are bad.
With modern female icons such as Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge embracing their femininity by showing how to give yourself and other fierce femmes the love and respect you deserve, we are slowly but surely shying away from toxic stereotypes. Also, some of your favorite movies actually pass the Bechdel test — movies such as Bridesmaids, Little Women, and Lady Bird (now on Netflix, thank God) — tell tales of strong, female characters and show them facing challenges other than those having to do with men. From marching proudly alongside a fierce group of ladies, to wiping your tears on the stuffed animal that you still have for some reason, you’re totally a girlboss. And hey, like, why not BOTH?
Credit: Pinterest
So whip out your sparkly tube top, your RBG memorabilia (what a queen), and crack open Michelle Obama’s Becoming, because we’re taking back the word “feminist” one badass at a time.
Some follow-up reads:
https://www.bustle.com/articles/170721-7-things-the-word-feminist-does-not-mean