I’m happy to say that feminism is back, everyone, and it has gained new traction! Feminism has entered the realm of pop culture in a way that was possibly never anticipated. And not only is it somewhat accepted, it’s cool! We have entered what many scholars consider a new wave of feminism, and while there are definite pros, this era has been nicknamed “feminism weightless” for a reason.
The new generation of feminism focuses a lot on individual choice, which is awesome (who doesn’t love choice?!). However, we are making feminism such an individualized project that we often breeze over deep-rooted systemic injustices and the importance of collective action.
This new feminism puts the responsibility of empowerment onto the individual. It says, “You can choose your life! Be who you want to be!” while failing to realize that there are many factors that still inhibit our freedom. For example, we may say, “I’m a feminist woman and that means I am free to decide whether or not to shave! I choose to shave!” While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with shaving, this mindset inhibits critical thinking on why we may choose to shave.
Do we really have free choice yet? I know women who have “chosen” to shave because they got corporate jobs or were shamed by a partner. It’s important to think about the social pressures that lie underneath our choices. We can’t sacrifice critical analysis in the name of feminist freedom.
The individualization project of feminism is insidious, because it allows people to claim feminism without really being called to do anything about it. It makes feminism strictly an identity, rather than a movement or an active political and social engagement. Once you claim it, you can absolve yourself of responsibility.
For the first time ever, it has become relatively “cool” to label yourself a feminist. And that’s awesome. However, what’s still not considered “cool” is calling out a friend when they call someone else a “pussy” or make a sexist joke. What’s not “cool” is challenging sexism and racism within our own family structures. And if our feminism is not about action, are we really feminists at all?
Don’t get me wrong, I want as many people as possible to call themselves feminists. That’s a great start! But, feminism is more than a personal identification. It’s more than just a label you put on that makes you feel empowered as an individual. It’s a radical social movement with a rich, active history.
We can’t let pop culture feminism make us lose sight of that. Feminism is inherently political, and its goal is to uproot entire systems of oppression—which requires radical change. You can’t just buy a “feminist” shirt from Forever 21 (which was probably made by underpaid international women of color), say that you have the freedom of choice and let your feminist work stop there.
Your self-identification as a feminist doesn’t grant you immunity from contributing to sexism or other systems of oppression. Your self-identification doesn’t absolve you of blame when you say or do something problematic. Your self-identification doesn’t mean your feminist work is done.
Getting to a place where you can call yourself a feminist is amazing. But identifying as a feminist is a responsibility, not a trend. So, I urge you, make sure your feminism is more than just a catchy slogan.