Feminism: The "F" Word?

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What is feminism, really?

Are you a feminist? Chances are you answered no. In fact, a survey conducted in March 2025 by Ipsos across 30 countries found that only 38% of people surveyed identify as feminists. People like me, who call themselves feminists, are the minority. This needs to change.

In today's world, that word has a negative connotation. Supposedly, feminists are toxic, closed-minded, and anti-men. Feminism is painted in a harsh light as an angry movement, rather than what it truly is. But really, we are not fighting for power or superiority. We are fighting for equality.

People who argue anti-men points and female superiority under the banner of feminism exist. I'm not denying that. But that is not all feminism is. The definition of feminism, by the Cambridge Dictionary, is "The belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way." If you believe that the sexes should be offered the same social, economic, and political rights, then you're a feminist.

This is not a bad thing. It is my opinion that women and men should be able to proudly call themselves feminists, to say that they believe in equality. But this word has been twisted to the point where people think that it is wrong.

How has feminism become a "bad" thing?

Today, feminism is viewed as a "bad" thing. But how did it come to the point that identifying as a feminist, someone who believes in gender equality, became something that people are afraid to identify as?

It's hard to find a conclusive answer as to what is the cause behind this shift, so it is likely that it is due to a variety of reasons. A major issue that I see is misinformation in the era of social media. People can, without consequence, share whatever opinions or "facts" they want to. Through social media posts, people can spread messages that are toxic and anti-man, not truly feminist.

These messages are spread across forms of media until they distort people's view of what feminism, at its core, is. Until the generalized idea of feminism is this negative ideology. This is what is creating this divisive idea of what feminism is, and what is causing people to choose not to identify as feminists, even if they believe in the very idea of what feminism is.

The generalization of feminists

All people are not the same, and neither are all feminists. The generalization of feminists as man-hating extremists is untrue, but that doesn't mean that all feminists are the same or have the exact same ideology.

In fact, there are several kinds of feminism, each with its own views or ideas. There are liberal feminists, who believe in equality through social justice and political reform; socialist feminists, who believe that capitalism strengthens the patriarchy and believe that the main issue lies in capitalist systems that underpay women; and radical feminists, who believe that current systems have to be completely changed to ever reach full equality.

These are just a few of the many feminist beliefs that exist. These ideas vary greatly, but at the core, they are the same. If you believe in complete equality between the sexes in any way, shape, or form, whether it is political justice or cultural reforms you think are required, then you are a feminist, plain and simple.

Stop the fighting!

In the end, all of us who believe in gender equality, whether you identify as a feminist or not, are fighting for the same thing. So can we stop fighting over whose ideology is right and whose way is wrong? Instead, let's make a real difference and do what we can to achieve equality for all genders.

Bibliography

Cambridge Dictionary. “FEMINISM | Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary.” Cambridge Dictionary, 2019, dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/feminism.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2025. 2025, www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2025-03/IWD%202025%20Global%20Charts%20FINAL_1.pdf.

MasterClass. “7 Types of Feminism: A Brief History of Feminism - 2024 - MasterClass.” MasterClass, 2020, www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-feminism.