How Media Is Changing Feminism Today

Feminism has become a normal world in our society today. Before, the word was linked to women that were radical, but still searching for equal rights between men and women. Today, the “F” word is more normalized. While being a feminist today still means working to get women on the same level as men in all aspects of life, it is becoming “trendy” according to the article Popular Misogyny, written by Sarah Banet-Weiser. By this, Banet means that with the increase of celebrities promoting feminism, it is becoming more normalized in the media today.

With the normalization of feminism and fighting for women’s rights, Banet makes the statement that it seems like everyone is becoming a feminist and asks the questions from other writers, “What if it becomes trendy?” and “If everyone is a feminist, is anyone?” This raises questions because with everyone being a feminist, feminism is becoming more of a product with so much celebrity endorsement. Banet writes in her article about Glamour Magazine and that they claimed “feminism is the new do,” signifying that feminism is considered a fashion choice and a product to just be told on tshirts, buttons and signs.

According to Banet, one of the problems that occurs with popular feminists is that they rarely get to discussing the complexities and contradictions with global feminist thought and practices. With the media interviews today and on social media with celebrities, it is hard to get in depth with how they really feel about feminism and the complications with patriarchy. That being said, it seems as if the point she is trying to make is that popular feminism today, as we see in the media, is more about saying you are a feminist in order to sway the minds of others, but maybe not necessarily always doing something to combat the core issues of inequality.

With the pushing forward of popular feminism, Banet discuss that there is a reaction that occurs as well. The backlash against feminism isn’t something that is new to the idea, but the more it is accepted, the more push back there is from those who strongly oppose the idea of equality between men and women. 

For example, after the campaign by Feminists, stating why they needed feminism in their lives, surfaced there was a backlash from those against feminism, stating why they didn’t need it and how the ideals of feminism were wrong. So even if feminism is becoming a “trendy” or normalized thing in society, there is always going to be backlash from others in society. This could also be a good thing, because then complexities of feminism that are being overlooked can continue to be discussed, educating others on the what feminism is.

However, some of the backlash towards feminists can be very brutal and undeserving. With rape threats against women gamers and overall violence towards feminists, especially over social media, it is becoming more common for several people to see the backlash from those who are truly against feminism.

It is not uncommon today to see women who are feminists on the cover of magazines. Some are probably really great examples, like Emma Watson on the cover of Elle Magazine. With female celebrities, and even male celebrities advocating for feminism, there’s the possibility to plant a small seed in their fans and watch it develop into something bigger. By using someone who is well known in societies, such as a celebrity, to advocate for feminist ideals can have a huge impact on the media and can reach a broad band of people. It can also be inspiring for young women and men to look at a magazine cover, advertisement or tv show and see women being supported in every way. 

However, it can be argued that seeing a celebrity on a magazine cover or on television supporting feminism can also be seen in a negative light. For example, if a celebrity was represented negatively in the media or did something wrong in the past to taint their name, it can give people a bad view of them and could ultimately lead them to the conclusion that what they are supporting is bad, even if it does mean equal rights for both men and women. 

There is also the fact that with popular feminism, there’s the possibility that the ideals are being looked at as more of a product and commodity than as a protest, therefore invalidating what feminists truly stand for. For example, on the cover of magazines that feature women that are feminists, it truly does make it look like the “new thing to do.” Like it is what the style is right now, but could change in another year or so. While popular feminism can be very beneficial to society, it also overlooks a few things that would benefit feminism if they were addressed properly.

Popular feminism can be something that truly changes how people look at feminism. With the support of people who are looked at on a daily basis and are always in the media, they can use their platform to truly make a difference in the world. Popular feminism will always be something that will be debated on for being either helpful or harmful to society, just like other forms of feminism. However, with addressing popular feminism the right way, it can really change the world. Instead of shrugging off the problems and having the 'boys will be boys' attitude, feminists have the ability to stand up, use their voice and defend other women, working to create an equal society.