Being Feminist: What Does It Mean in 2025?
Feminism - Larousse definition: A militant movement for the improvement and extension of women's roles and rights in society.
Simone de Beauvoir, Les Femens, Virginie Despentes, Beyoncé… Often stigmatized as troublemakers or reactionaries, feminists actually have many faces. Some, or rather some men, are even men. Enough to make inclusive writing spin. But what does it mean to be feminist today? What battles remain to be fought for women's rights or simply their place, here and in the world? A brief look back at the history of feminism and its current state.
A Bit of History...
Feminism is not new. Already in Antiquity, the poet Sappho claimed women's place in her love poems, which she wrote from the island of Lesbos (a Greek island that gave the term lesbian). In the Middle Ages, the Venetian writer Christine de Pizan fought against the widespread idea that knowledge corrupted women. In France, the Revolution opened the way with Olympe de Gouges and her Declaration of the Rights of Women. Then came the struggles for the right to vote and education. This is called the first wave of feminism. Then those denouncing inequalities in laws and social roles, and addressing sexual freedom. This is the second wave. Today, among others with the #Metoo movement, feminism is stronger than ever.
Being Feminist Today
Often seen as outdated and disturbing, feminism has become a marketing product. At Dior, you can buy a "We should all be feminists" t-shirt - a reference to Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - for 550 euros… And that’s just one example. Some feminist videos also go viral on social media, like the recent "Be a Lady they said" which lists the demands made on women about their appearance and clothing, and we can witness public stands during the Oscars ceremony, like Florence Foresti leaving the room when Roman Polanski’s nomination was announced. No, feminism is not an archaic movement.
Feminism takes many forms: intersectional, ecofeminism, egalitarian feminism, feminism of difference, radical feminism, transfeminism… There is not one but a thousand ways to be feminist, through different currents, countries, and actions undertaken.
Whether one agrees with these movements or not, it cannot be denied that gender inequalities persist in the West and worldwide, and that sexism and violence against women have never ceased to exist. Here is a non-exhaustive list of battles still to be fought.
One in Two Women Victims of Sexism
This is confirmed by a report published in January 2019 by the High Commissioner for Equality.
One Woman Raped Every 9 Minutes
...In France. Now imagine the rest of the world. Added to rapes are domestic violence, up to femicides. In Japan, manga conveys the idea that rape is sexy. In Turkey, a law risks legitimizing rape of minors in exchange for (forced) marriage.
Still Unequal Salaries
Fewer positions of responsibility, part-time work, and different salaries for equal work. Yes, even today.
Not the Same Rights
When women protest for their rights - like the right to get a driver’s license in Saudi Arabia, or the right not to wear the veil in Iran - some women still end up imprisoned or stoned.
The Ban on Having Control Over One’s Body
The right to abortion or female contraception is never guaranteed. Think of the rollback in Spain in 2010, or the deeply misogynistic US president Donald Trump, who marched against abortion. Let’s remember that thousands of women still suffer from female genital mutilation. And in India, the ban on commercial surrogacy is still only a bill.
The Persistent Taboo on Periods
In the 21st century, menstruation is still taboo, making women ashamed or even impure in some countries where they must stay home during this time. It is even a factor in school dropout! On the hygiene side, period products, too expensive, are not accessible to all.
By Elise
