We’ve all heard it before, either from friends or A-list celebrities… You know, that disheartening and annoying retort to the question of whether or not a woman aligns with feminism: “I’m not a feminist—I love men!”
Ah, the classic mix-up between feminism and men-castrating lesbians. Too bad the dictionary definition (a person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes) is so vague! There are many reasons strong women in in the public eye deny feminism, and as far as we’re concerned, they’re all ridiculous. Because, honestly, a lot of these ladies practice feminism’s ideologies—they’re just not yet ready to stop seeing “feminist” as a bad word. We believe Aziz Ansari summed this up best when he said: “I feel like if you do believe that men and women have equal rights, if someone asks if you’re a feminist, you have to say yes, because that is how words work.”
Madonna, Susan Sarandon, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Demi Moore call themselves “humanist,” and most definitely not feminists. (Spoiler alert: It’s the same freakin’ thing.) Lady Gaga says “I’m not a feminist. I hail men, I love men, I celebrate American male culture — beer, bars, and muscle cars.” (Audible sigh.) Then there are celebs who just don’t know they are feminists, but totally are. (We’re looking at you Shailene Woodley!)
Bjork said in an interview with BUST that she doesn’t want to be called a feminist “Because I think it would isolate me. I think it’s important to do positive stuff. It’s more important to be asking than complaining.” She also added: “You could probably call my mother a feminist, and I watched her isolate herself all her life from men, and therefore from society.” An interesting interpretation—Feminism: (verb) never speaking to men or any person ever again.
Well, Katie Goodman’s “Sorry Babe, You’re A Feminist” says it all and then some. Completely unapologetically, she belts out “It’s not about who’s better, here’s my proof—lots of men are feminists too!” She reminds us all of the oh-so-obvious Ansari referred to: if you believe in equality between the sexes, congratulations! You’re a feminist.
Photos via YouTube
