FEMINIST THEORY

 FEMINIST THEORY

Feminism is all about burning bras. And hating men. And being a witch, lesbian, and communist all lumped into one (they’re all the same anyway, right Pat?).

Or wait, maybe it’s just about grrrl power and doing whatever you wanna do whatever your gender, like Miley Cyrus says. Is that it?

The thing is, even though the word “feminist” gets thrown around like props at a pool party, it can refer to tons of different kinds of activism, politics, media, art, and critical theory. It’s usually not about whether you want to send your undergarments up in flames, but it does have a lot to do with trying to understand why a lot of the world operates in a way that’s pretty freakin’ contrary to people who do have a tendency for pyromania with over-the-shoulder boulder holders. And sometimes—even with our pal Miley—that leads to trying to change the stereotypes and discrimination that are built into many social norms.

So feminism’s about way more than equality for women. The focus can be on how women’s bodies are digitally altered, the way sexual assault is talked about (or not talked about), whether Beyoncé is a feminist and what kind, how race or sexuality affects women’s lives, or if our furry friends can be feminists too. The point is, the questions are about who’s getting the short end of the stick, what societal forces are making the stick that way, and whether using a stick metaphor is an example of our society emphasizing the phallic over the yonic.

And, in case you haven’t guessed it already, there’s plenty to debate in the world of feminism. And some kinds of feminism just don’t mix well with others. When the stakes are high—and feminists know they are—disagreements can get as hot as the fire under that first bra at the Miss America Pageant of 1968.

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