The trend for several years now is to ask celebrity women about feminism, equal pay and whether they self-identify as feminists. While I don’t think feminism is a “trend,” I do think there is a trend of increased awareness around feminist issues, and there is a trend of celebrity women misappropriating the feminism mantle for problematic reasons (feminism as popularity contest/Mean Girl clique, or non-intersectional white feminism). Look no further than Taylor Swift, who only embraced feminism in the past few years, but at times seems like she believe feminism means “no one can say anything mean about Taylor Swift.” Anyway, feminist writer Andi Zeisler (you can see her Wiki here) believes that celebrity-feminism is just the trend right now and that next year, the trend will be something else.
The flashy brand of feminism practiced by Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Emma Watson is a fad that will pass like Hollywood’s fervor for environmentalism that flared up in the early 2000s, predicts leading women’s rights academic Andi Zeisler, author of the new book “We Were Feminists Once.” Zeisler says the singers and the actress are valuable “mouthpieces” for the movement, but she doesn’t think they mark a major step forward.
“Social movements become trends in a way,” Zeisler told Page Six. “Ten years ago, environmentalism was the hot Hollywood trend, and you had George Clooney and everyone else driving a Prius because that was a status symbol, and it was this very conscious way of virtue-signaling: It’s a way of saying, I’m not just a celebrity . . . I feel things, I care about the Earth.”
But that’s not to say today’s “branded feminism” isn’t helpful.
“The tenor of media coverage around feminism won’t last,” added Zeisler, “but that doesn’t mean that people who got invested in it via celebrities — or celebrities themselves who got invested in it — will stop caring.”
I was going to gear up for a fight, but I actually think Zeisler makes a good point. Her point is more about the media coverage around feminist issues and how celebrities can bring a spotlight to the hot topic of the moment. Which brings me to what I always say: there are a lot of celebrities saying imperfect but well-meaning things about feminist issues, and I think that’s a good thing. It’s better to have these conversations – even if they are just this year’s Hot Topic – even if the conversations only move the needle a little bit here and there. Because who knows? Maybe there are 11-year-old girls sitting at home right now, thinking “maybe feminism is really cool” just because Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lawrence and Beyonce were talking about it. My generation had the Riot Grrrls and Kim Deal. Youngsters today get Swifty and Beysus. Not fair! (Actually Kim Deal is still my spirit animal.)
Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.
I think if young girls hears a positive message about feminism then that’s a good thing. We need to send a message to our young girls that their worth shouldn’t be measured by a man. That they should be praised for their intelligence and strength instead of their bodies and beauty. It’s important that they have a strong sense of self and self esteem. That’s what is important.
And what is going on is the exact opposite.
Word dagdag. I hate to say it but for celebrities, celebrating feminism seems to be the cool thing to do, rather than truly embracing it. (Although I think Emma Watson is an exception.) And I hate to say it, but I think for many white celebrities and producers, diversity is being viewed the same way. They are embracing these casting changes for the accolades and because it’s the in buzz word – not because they want real and lasting change.
Emma Watson seems to operate on a different level than Beyonce, Swift, and Lena but maybe I think that because I don’t see her in the press a lot.
My predictions/educated guesses?
Emma will remain feminist, will speak on it and every topic she feels is important because it seems she actually cares about the world.
Beyonce is going to be whatever Beyonce wants to be and will present herself as the way she wants us to see her at that time. She will sell the strong woman story forever because she always has. She’s finely crafted and sells and image but she believes she is a feminist and I do not question that about her. She will always present her version of feminism through her work.
While I don’t question the woman when she says she is a feminist, Swift is a corporate product and corporations change their marketing campaigns to meet the consumers demand if they want to stay in business. She may remain feminist in her personal life, but her sellable image will change to fit whatever is popular at the time.
Lena Dunam will always be an outspoken feminist who insists that she is the voice for progressive females. She will alway be obnoxious. Those two statements are apples and oranges but I said it anyway because of reasons lol.
Feminism was definitely marketed heavily this past year because you have trend forecasters and the like telling the industry suits directing an artists “vision” in a way that will assuredly be profitable. These stars have to be relatable and say the right things and appeal to the masses so that the masses will give them their money.
Possible silver lining? If they were smart enough to try to sell it to us, that means the publics discussion about important issues for women and the battle for female equality was big and loud enough that Madison Avenue AND Hollywood took notice and tries to sell our own movement back to us.
Yeah agreed – Emma’s feminism is a different breed than Taylor’s and isn’t going anywhere – she is becoming more educated all the time on the matter and isn’t just going to wipe her hands and say “TOO HARD” and give up.
Excellent analysis!
The way SOME of these celebs are doing it, yes, it is a trend and in a few months it will be something else.
Feminism is more than music video squads and nude power selfies.
If you’re too scared to talk about anything real or of substance concerning women outside of that agreeable feminism 101 crap: “Men and women should be equal and treated fairly” – Why thank you 1940’s! And blacks should be allowed to drink at the same water fountain as whites.
WE KNOW.
The problem is most/some celebs are as deep as a puddle and live very privelaged lives, they don’t know how to connect to anything other than their own criticism and critics.
Agreed. Feminism is a deep issue and many of the celebs were only willing to wade into the shallow end. It doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate some aspects of what they said, but it takes more than equal pay and girl squads to be truly into feminism. My prediction is that any of the celebrities that followed up “I’m a feminist” with “I’m also a humanist” will probably not be talking about this topic next year. If so, I welcome being wrong and pleasantly surprised.
Truth Eternal. A lot of celebrities are comfortable in their privilege and don’t want to free themselves from their ignorance with education and knowledge. So they go for the “quick fix” jumping on hash tag trends and hot social media platforms without really putting any effort into understanding the issue.
Not to mention the celebrity feminists who do get the most praise are often the ones most in need of an education on intersectional feminism. It’s frustrating.
While I think it’s a “trend” among some actresses, I don’t think it’s going to disappear from the public dialogue (at least I hope not. Let’s keep it there sisters!). People like Angelina Jolie, Lena Dunham, Gloria Steinem, and Sheryl Sandberg have brought this issue back into the spotlight in a big way and I believe they will make every effort to keep it there, as each of us must also do in our daily lives.
Yes, it probably is a trend that will fade out in time, or at least morph into something else.
Furthermore I think a lot of celebrities, and even just people in general, are using feminism as a brand to promote themselves. Virtue-signaling can be such a annoying thing…
I agree with her point that was quoted above-in hindsight i believe that this current crop of “activists” will be seen as a trend by reasonable people, just as the faux-environmentalists are. The true believers will stick around. I also think that it becoming a trend is a product of some issues within the greater current feminist incarnation and society as a whole. I don’t find it surprising that since so much “activism” is tied up in self-serving motivations and sometimes even pure attention seeking antics (including at the average person level) that feminism got dragged in to the mix. It is a human movement after all; imperfect and evolving. I don’t think it’s time to panic though.
I think you are right and made some really good points.
100% yes. People are only speaking out because they are attacked for every little thing that is said that isn’t the ‘right’ answer. Most of it is probably lip service.
Yes, I think celebrity feminism will fade, just as activism about AIDS, environmentalism, and “Africa” (I’m putting Africa in quotes because oftentimes it was unclear what aspect a lot of the celebrity activism about it was about) have.
I wish Zeisler didn’t lump Beyonce with the others, though, as I think that she actually does concrete things in support of her feminist beliefs (e.g. all-woman band so that girls can have more musical role models, cosmetology school, etc.) as opposed to using it as only PR.
It’s not a trend for actresses, it’s a trend for reporters to ask them about it. Once that trend dies, then we’ll hear fewer celebrities talking about it.
I feel like a lot of “feminists” are using feminism as yet another way to pit women against each other. It happens all the time on this site. A woman says something that is deemed unworthy of the feminist movement, and OFF with her head! It’s hypocritical at best, a pernicious breakdown of the whole movement at worst. No one wants to be involved in something that puts you at risk of criticism and judgement with no room for error or growth. It’s easier sometimes just to keep your thoughts to yourself. That said, I am a feminist… always have been.
I always see Emma being branded as the face of white feminism, and while I do agree that she’s in an exceptional position of privilege and that white feminism is an actual thing, I also know that she’s had a huge fanbase for years now, which is extremely diverse, gender, age and race-wise. I don’t think it will ever be just a trend for her. Also, I’d like to add that today, all over Argentina, the second annual edition of a demonstration that goes under the name #NiUnaMenos (Not One Less), will take place, to protest against gender-based violence and to remember all of the women who have died under those circumstances.
It’s easy to criticise Emma but she can hardly help her race. She is trying to become better educated and that should be applauded. We always expect celebrities to be these fully formed perfect beings never allowed to make a mistake but that’s hardly fair.
Maybe for a time she was ignorant to the impacts of sexism on other races but she is learning and trying to understand more.
People do but she has spoken on intersectional feminism before (in response to a question about white feminism) AND has said she is willing and open to learn and accept criticism. So there’s that…she’s evolving always
Of course she is! My comment was not meant to be critic towards her, but the opposite. The fact that she has such a diverse fanbase, to which she has a massive reach with her message, is one of the most positive things about her work. Probably most of them now know what feminism is thanks to her.
“We live in an age in which ideas, important ideas, are worn like articles of fashion — and for precisely the same reason articles of fashion are worn, which is to make the wearer look better and to feel à la mode.”
Tom Wolfe
What I don’t like is celebrities who hide behind feminism to push their own selfish agenda and as long as that keeps happening the trend will go on. And yes Im looking straight at you Kim K, Taylor and so forth. But to be honest I don’t like the way feminism is being played out lately in everyday life either. People have lost the original meaning and fundamentals behind the goal of equality and women’s rights. We already have a hard time getting people especially men to understand that feminism doesn’t mean “man hating, angry lesbians and bra burning” (which yes- that view on feminism still strongly exists) so when I see people use feminism to defend ridiculous behavior or to try and absolve women from any criticism and so forth, I cringe and realize they are doing more harm than good and only adding to the stereotypes. And certain celebrities just make that worse.
Of course most of these don’t care about Feminism unless it’s to stop criticisms.So far every time I hear Feminsim come out these celebs mouths it’s about, “Being Naked”.
Just like everything is ” X” shaming.
Yeah, celebrity feminism may just be a trend but that’s okay. I wish it was more than a trend but for however many months it lasts, it can maybe reach some girls and teens who look up to some celebs. Maybe that will encourage these kids to carry the feminism torch through many more years to come.
BTW – Kim Deal is my spiritual animal too.
I can only hope the 3rd wave feminists go away and restore the 2nd wave feminist ideas. These 3rd wavers are f*cking insane.
You mean return to a victim-blaming, bigoted brand of feminism that’s only for the advancement of certain kinds of women and promotes the “No woman should ever be forced or pressured to do X, therefore no woman should choose to do X” school of thought? #Nothanx. (Those types are very much around by the way). The fact that feminism is evolving from that way of thinking into a more inclusive movement that acknowledges that discrimination and violence happen when women and other people are treated as less than/unequally because of race, the sex they were born as, physical appearance, or how much they do or don’t conform to conservative sexual morals is a good thing.