Through her collection of essays, Gay aims to lead the movement of being a bad feminist. Feminism has given her peace and has guided her writings, readings, and the way she lives. It wasn’t until she realized that feminism was about advocating for gender equality in all areas of life that she began to embrace it. When Gay was younger, being a feminist meant being an “angry, sex-hating, man-hating victim lady person," and this caricature has been warped by those who fear feminism most. She recognizes she does not have all the answers, but at the end of the day, she is still a feminist. She is not trying to be perfect, she may even have certain interests and opinions that go against mainstream feminism. Gay recognizes that she is both flawed and human. For these reasons, Gay embraces the label of bad feminist.
ROXANE GAY BAD FEMINIST ESSAYS PDF PROFESSIONAL
As a result, we forget the difference between feminism and Professional Feminists. This is because feminism is a “movement powered by people and people are inherently flawed.” Another problem is that feminists are too often associated with popular figures and people with the biggest platform and loudest voice. But to Roxane Gay, feminism is largely flawed. So what do we do? How do we bring attention to these issues? Many people might think the answer is feminism. Rarely are women the center of attention. When women are involved, they are typically sidekicks or romantic interests. In movies, we often follow the stories of men. We have singers like Robin Thicke who know “we want it,” and rappers like Jay-Z who use the word “bitch” like it’s punctuation.
Today’s society is riddled with music, television, and movies that damage the representations of women. At the end of the day, feminism looks different for everyone but being a bad feminist is better than not being a feminist at all! As you read, you’ll learn how reality television is harmful to the fight for equality, how racial profiling can end in murder, and how movies like The Help only advance racial stereotypes. For instance, while Gay enjoys going against the grain, her favorite color is still pink and she enjoys reading Vogue, both of which are typical female stereotypes. As a bad feminist, Gay recognizes that humans are flawed, and therefore, their views and opinions don’t always fit perfectly into a neatly wrapped package. There is no right or wrong way to be a feminist, which is why Gay proudly labels herself as a bad feminist. But according to Roxane Gay, feminism is flawed.
All of these fight for the rights of women in every area of life, including equal pay, reproductive rights, and more. When you hear the word feminism, what do you think of? In today’s climate, you likely think about the many women’s marches and the #MeToo movement that have taken over the media. Discover Why Being a Bad Feminist is Better Than Not Being a Feminist At All.