WHAT IS A FEMINIST????
7th March 2017
What is a feminist? I feel like this is a topic that I’m finding I want to and have to talk about regularly on my blog.
There are so many different definitions out there. Some say a woman that wants to be equal to a man. Others say a woman that hates men and wants to takeover the world. Then there are those who think feminists are women that are sexually free and don’t live by any rules.
Here is the thing I personally don’t think there is a right answer to that question, it different to each individual. For me a feminist is a women or a girl that is confident enough to speak out and demand she is treated the same as a man or boy in the workplace, relationships or even in social gatherings. I want to be respected and valued as much as my male counterparts. I want to be fearless in sharing my opinion, knowledge without feeling I’m threatening a man and it resulting in me being isolated or shunned.
Why are we supposed to be damsels in distress and never be too smart?? Who made these rules and I for one will not accept them.
It’s a hard thing being a feminists in my experience, in the workplace. I have been in the minority when I have challenged guys who say sexual remarks and undermine women hired to do the same job in most cases.
What’s been harder for me though has been when other women haven’t stood next to me and been brave enough to support me in those situations. It can allow men to then think you have a problem, rather then think hold up maybe it’s inappropriate to sexualise women like and not respect them the same as a male colleague.
Emma Watson is a young actress that I have always admired. Aside from being a huge Harry Potter fan, Emma has for years now been a spokes person for feminism and justice. She has even stood at the UN and spoken passionately about why it is important for women and girls to be treated equally all over the world. That takes a lot of bravery and love for fellow women.
She has recently featured in a shoot with Vanity Fair. The images show her looking beautiful and very high fashion, but one pic has caused uproar. Emma is seen revealing side boobs and looking sexier then we have ever seen her before.
Am I offended by this picture? No absolutely not. Emma looks beautiful yet very classy. Here is the backlash though, feminists have called her out on social media saying she is a hypocrite and contradicts everything a feminist stands for by posing like this.
I disagree as I think being a feminists means you have total power over what you want to share from your thoughts to your sexuality. However Emma back in 2014 she made this comment about Beyonce’s Visual album, during an interview with Wonderland Magazine that has added to the drama.
“As I was watching [the videos] I felt very conflicted, I felt her message felt very conflicted in the sense that on the one hand she is putting herself in a category of a feminist, but then the camera, it felt very male, such a male voyeuristic experience of her,”
Emma tweeted the full interview that included her also applauding Beyonce and finding her inspiring.
This is the part of my 2014 interview with Tavi where we talked about Beyoncé. My words are in bold. pic.twitter.com/Y8vumOeyDT
— Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) March 7, 2017
I think when you are in the public eye especially you have to either be careful of what you say or totally own it. After reading the full interview, I think Emma was having the same conversation we were all having in our friends circles when that Beyonce album came out. It was a total surprise and all those videos left room for all of us to take what we wanted from them and learn some lessons through Beyonce.
I think a true feminist is someone that doesn’t fear judgement and shares their opinion in a respectful but very confident way. The way Emma has responded to the criticism shows she truly is that girl. Although I may not agree with her opinion on Beyonce’s album, I will always respect and hear out people opinions if they are made in the right way. We should be able to have different opinions, change our minds, be sexy and be smart.
A true feminists should not have a book of rules that we should all have to live by or else we get kicked out the gang. This is a life choice and something we all have the right to be when we feel comfortable enough to own it.
Let me know your thoughts and how you define being a feminists. As I truly believe it’s different for all of us. Sending lots of love to Emma who is one of the best!
Love Max xxx
