Common misconceptions about feminism sully the name of women, men, and people of all genders who strive for equality. Here are seven of the most common fallacies regarding women's empowerment.
MYTH #1: Feminists are manhaters!
A lot of people believe that feminists just hate men. There are varying degrees of this belief, but the main idea is that the feminist agenda is to take rights from men, or anyone of majority.
Not even close.
Above all, feminists seek equality. Feminists are people from diverse backgrounds, have different relationship dynamics and moral standards, who have come together under a common name to achieve equality between genders. We want equal rights. That doesn't mean all feminist women want to abandon their professions for stereotypically masculine lines of work like the military, but we would like to at least have the option of exploring those fields. |
MYTH #2: Only women can be feminists
NOPE.
A feminist is someone who supports gender equality. Google it. There are many men who publicly campaign for feminism. Anyone of any gender can be a feminist. Another important thing to remember is that a transgender woman can be just as much a feminist as any cis woman.
MYTH #3: Feminism =/= Equality
Feminism and equality are different. Men or women can strive for gender equality without being a feminist.
Also false.
Technically, striving for gender equality makes you a feminist. You may not operate under that label, but it makes you part of the feminist community. This also means that, even though they aren't one and the same, feminism can become an umbrella term for equality of multiple minorities, such as people of color and lgbtqa+. This does not mean people of more conservative beliefs or religious positions that do not condone rights for other minorities are not "allowed" to be feminists. There is no rulebook; the umbrella is just a more modern, liberal branch of feminism.
Myth #4: All feminists are masculine and independent!
Sort of? But not really.
There is not a rulebook. If you want to be a feminist, be a feminist. Just because we want gender roles to be a choice doesn't mean a woman in the feminist movement cannot wear skirts, high heels, and make-up, or be a submissive wife.
Myth #6: Women are never sexist!
False!
Some of the worst misogynists are women. Just as some of the best feminists are men, some of the worst sexists are women. Sexism is an off-shoot of misinformation and the fear of the feminine. As a result, there are just as many misinformed women as men.
These are some of the most common misconceptions about women's empowerment, and the infamous f-bomb. The fact that so many people today still base their women's empowerment views on myths like this means we still have a long way to go. However, people like ASFAzine readers, who will actually read articles devoted to feminism, are proving that we have come a long way.
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