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Feminism: The One Misunderstood

Im a feminist is often received just as negatively as the words racist


and sexist. But why is this, when the last two words are discriminating while
the first is inclusive? Radical feminists, just like radical political groups, have
developed frightening images of feminism, far different from the original
feminist goals. They have created an image of a world where men lose all of
their power and women dominate. Through this misinterpretation, feminism
has gained a negative connotation which has spread to even the most
educated or powerful people.
As an actress who has played numerous strong, female roles, Shailene
Woodley was interviewed by Time Magazine about her views on feminism.
When reporter Eliana Dockterman asked if she was a feminist, Woodley
answered, No because I love men, and I think the idea of raise women to
power, take the men away from the power is never going to work out
because you need balance (qtd. in Dockterman). Throughout her interview,
Woodley demonstrates the misunderstanding that even she, a powerful
woman, has of the meaning of feminism. This common misconception of
feminism is broadcast frequently by women who do not wish to be labeled as
a man hater. Yet, if any of these women took the time to research
feminism, they would be shocked by the simplicity of its meaning: the
advocacy of equal rights for both women and men. The balance that
Woodley was looking for is in the definition of the very thing she denounced.

The negativity and misunderstanding of feminism is common


throughout the United States. In 2014, The Huffington Post reported on a Vox
survey taken to evaluate the American understanding and perception of
feminism. Alanna Vagianos reports, Vox found that only 18 percent of
Americans consider themselves feminists (Vagianos). Eighteen percent is a
very small proportion of the U.S. who are willing to call themselves feminists,
even in an anonymous survey. Yet, when the question is written without the
word feminist, Vox found that a whopping 85 percent of participants
responded that they do believe in equality for women (Vagianos). That
being said, an estimated eighty five percent of Americans are feminists and
do not even know it. These statistics show that over fifty percent of the
Americans surveyed misunderstand the meaning of feminism, just like
Shailine Woodley.
Even with those who know the accurate definition of feminism, there is
still a fear that stems from a lack of understanding. People fear what
feminism could take away from society. In her article, Fear not Feminism,
Sri Lanka, discusses the misconceptions of feminism, such as its label of an
anti-social movement. She writes, Anti-social [feminism] is, in the sense
that it challenges the existing social structure and works towards a more
equal society, but that doesn't mean Feminism is destructive (Lanka).
Feminism does not mean that women are not allowed to be stay at home
mothers. Instead feminism gives women the opportunity to work if that is
what they choose, as well as makes it more acceptable for men to become

stay-at-home dads if that is what they choose. Feminism also does not mean
that men cannot hold high positions at work. It only strives to give women an
equal opportunity for the same positions men receive. It is all about treating
women equally to men in society and the workplace. Women can be
feminists and still love men. Feminism creates an and situation where
today women are stuck with either/or.
Years of these misconceptions and ignorance have hindered the
progress of feminism. Very few people are willing to stand up as a feminist
because of fear of the backlash. So what if everyone knew the meaning of
feminism and truly understood it? Of course not every man will be willing to
give up the patriarchal society, and not every women desires these rights.
Yet, as the Vox survey suggests, over eighty five percent of Americans will
join the movement of equal rights for men and women.
With accurate understanding, the progression of feminism would
increase rapidly. The meaning of feminism would become untwisted and the
connotation of the word would become positive. Men would not be afraid to
say, I am a feminist, because they would know that they were not belittling
themselves. Women would receive equal pay and equal opportunities for
work as men. Women would gain respect in domestic violence cases,
allowing their voices to be heard equal to those of men. And women would
become more than the home-makers and child bearers that centuries of
discipline has made them.

Feminism is not an exclusive movement. It does not tell women what


they cannot do, but instead shows them what they have a right to do.
Feminism is just another search for equality; a search that began earlier and
is simpler than the fights Americans have had over equality based on race or
religion. Every human being is a man or a women, and therefore every
person in the world is included in this fight for equality between the two. If
feminism were understood, all rights of women would soon be equal to those
of men.

Works Cited
Dockterman, Eliana. "Shailene Woodley On Why She's Not A Feminist." Time.
Time, 5 May 2014. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.
Lanka, Sri. "Fear Not Feminism." Daily News 11 Jan. 2011: n. pag. LexisNexis
Academic. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.
Vagianos, Alanna. "When It Comes To Feminism And Reproductive Rights,
Survey Says Labels Don't Work." The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 10 Apr. 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

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