Myths About Feminism

• Feminists Hate Men

Artist Rebecca Cohen's comic on how
society is stuck on the idea that feminists are
anti-men.

This is the most common misconception, yet it is the most absurd. No, feminists do not hate men. Yes, of course, some feminist issues regard men specifically, such as rape and domestic violence, but what feminism really strives for is educating men on all these concepts, so we can live in harmony as a society. The truth is, women are systematically oppressed based on their sex, and that’s a fact. Men, however, are not. Society, at times subtly and at time brutally, favors men. Everything from hiring employees to the Constitution swings in their favor. Because men are accustomed to living in a world where they are valued immensely, having a movement such as feminism may make them believe they are under attack. So no, feminists do not hate men, they simply want to close the gap between men’s and women’s privileges. 

• Feminism Only Benefits White, Middle-Class Women

"I Am Malala", book
 by youngest ever
Noble Peace Prize
winner Malala
Yousafzai.

Unfortunately, some who call themselves feminists only give attention to issues that pertain directly to them. These are not real feminists. True feminism is intersectional, meaning it includes all nationalities, races, colors, classes, sexualities, etc. Intersectional feminism, for example, strives to end child marriage in underdeveloped countries while aiming to end barely noticeable misogynistic expression such as ‘“You run like a girl”. One example is Malala Yousafzai, a girl from Pakistan who resisted when the Taliban shut down her school. She made a speech criticizing the group and was targeted for it. She was shot, but survived. Even after the attack, she is considered a target by the Taliban, but has not lowered her voice to advocate for girls' rights to a good education. In sum, authentic feminism includes everyone.  

• All Feminist Are Women

Matt McGorry's simple definition on why he's a feminist

Most feminists are women, but that doesn’t mean men don’t, or can’t, participate in the movement. One perfect example is Matt McGorry, an actor who plays John Bennett in Orange Is the New Black and Asher Millstone in How to Get Away with Murder. He is an active participant in feminism and efficiently uses his influence to promote the movement. Not only is he a very talented actor, but he is also a gifted writer. One of his best pieces is “How Becoming a Feminist Felt Like Falling In Love”, where he speak of his journey into the movement and how he realized that more men are feminists than they care to admit. Matt McGorry is just one of many examples. Many men are feminists because they believe in the equality of genders, which is not a hard concept to grasp.

• All Feminist Are Radical, Bra-Burning, Radical Liberals

Angelina Jolie on how governments treat women unfairly

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of feminism is: the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. There are innumerous ways to promote this belief, but, unluckily, for many the first image that comes to mind when they hear the word ‘feminism’ is of a person the mainstream media likes to call ‘feminazi’. A ‘feminazi’ is an extremist who usually dedicates all their time to feminism. Their views typically collide with other feminists’ as they are more radical. Another thing about ‘feminazis’ is that they’re rare. The grand majority of feminists aren’t like that. They’re typical, 9-to-5 women who dedicate their free time to a cause they are passionate about: gender equality.