Feminism, as a concept, is certainly not new. Women have been fighting for their rights and recognition for years and years, each wave fighting for rights in their own way. The modern day feminist movement is largely traced back to the mid 1800s and the fight for suffrage for women. Ironically, a movement born from a fight for equality has often been exclusionary. The initial fight for women’s right to vote in the U.S. largely excluded women of color, and was representative of white women with status, despite many of the leaders of the movement being abolitionists themselves.
American feminists of today are fighting not for voting rights, but for things like equal pay, protection against sexual and domestic violence and very commonly, release from the traditional gender roles that dominated earlier society, hurting men and women alike. However, the hope for a complete patriarchy dismantling and removal of harmful gender roles has taken a sharp turn for the worse. What started as a hope for a society better served for everyone, not just men, has made a full turn towards bioessentialism and movement specifically designed to exclude and hurt transgender people.
Bioessentialism, or the idea that there are certain inherent traits, strengths or weaknesses tied to things like gender or race, has become increasingly pervasive in feminism, especially on social media. “Men used to go to war,” is a common phrase used in social media comment sections as a reaction to men acting in a way people would consider “feminine.” Women concluding that splitting bills at dinner or splitting rent is “unacceptable,” and men as “providers” need to step up.
Oftentimes, this type of language is justified by arguing that women deserve nothing but the best, and shouldn’t settle for anything. If criticized, feminists who use these phrases and hold these notions justify themselves by arguing that women make less than men on average, or are giving up their safety by simply going out with men. While in some cases that is true, it’s also true that reinforcing these ideas that men need to be a certain type of masculine in order to be valuable defeats the purpose of feminism. The reason women feel so unsafe on dates and are not being paid well is due to the patriarchy, and one of the top ways the patriarchy is being upheld is through the social norms it’s put in place. Seemingly little things like teasing men who have a skincare routine directly upholds the patriarchy and the oppressive systems within it.
Additionally, types of radical feminism support the idea of “sacred spaces” for women that are protected and kept away from men. However, many want only biological women to have a place. Transgender women have become a hot topic of conversation among feminists, and many strongly advocate for the removal of trans women from bathrooms, runways, sports, etc., all in the name of “protecting women.” Trans exclusionary radical feminists, or terfs, pick and choose which feminism to support as it benefits them. Advocating for higher wages and sexual freedom is all well and good, but allowing trans women into female spaces is inconceivable. This, again, reeks of bioessentialism and the idea that trans women, having been born male, won’t truly be women. This disdain for gender non-conformity is a product of the patriarchy, and terfs pick and choose which women to support and advocate for, and only when it benefits them to do so.
To be a good feminist, is to not just understand how the patriarchy is hurting women — but also to understand how it hurts queer people, people of color, and yes, men. In order for the movement to be successful, self-proclaimed feminists need to be held accountable. They need to be truly fighting for the dismantling of the patriarchy, and in all situations. Gender-nonconformity needs to be embraced and accepted, and feminists need to stand up against the subjugation of everyone, not just biological women.
