7 Female Celebs Who Aren’t Afraid To Call Themselves Feminists
Published on February 23, 2015. Updated April 3, 2017Feminism has become one of those words that few people understand. Many young, smart celebrities today have absolutely no idea what it means. They think feminism is about taking power away from men and giving it to women or that it is about hating men, which it is isn’t. It is simply about equal rights for men and women. It’s amazing how a simple concept has become so misconstrued! Since we’ve already gone through which female celebrities do not consider themselves feminists and which male celebrities do consider themselves feminists, it is time for which female celebrities aren’t afraid to call themselves the big F!
7. Lena Dunham
For Lena Dunham, feminism is part of her identity. “The idea of being a feminist – so many women have come to this idea of it being anti-male and not able to connect with the opposite sex – but what feminism is about is equality and human rights. For me that is just an essential part of my identity. I hope [Girls] contributes to a continuance of feminist dialogue,” she said.
The “Girls” star also said that she has a hard time understanding why other women don’t identify as feminists. “Women saying ‘I’m not a feminist’ is my greatest pet peeve,” Dunham said. “Do you believe that women should be paid the same for doing the same jobs? Do you believe that women should be allowed to leave the house? Do you think that women and men both deserve equal rights? Great, then you’re a feminist. People think there is something taboo about speaking up for feminism.”
Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com6. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus considers herself a feminist. In a recent interview with The Kit, she discussed what feminism means to her and we’re pretty impressed.
“I’m a feminist because I’m female empowered and I want to give f**king women jobs and I want them out there being leaders and being badass, totally, but I want the same thing for men as well. I think people go out there too strong. That’s what Kathleen Hanna – she was a huge icon to me – she always made it very clear that she wasn’t a dude hater. She’s like, I’m a chick so I’m out there fighting for those of my kind but it’s not mean, like, we’re smarter, we’re better. I think people have overused it so much that it’s getting confusing to girls of what a feminist actually is. Feminist is just about wanting to be equal, not above, not below, equal,” she said.
DFree / Shutterstock.com5. Emma Watson
Since being named United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Emma Watson has been busy re-educating people on what feminism really is. She recently launched the HeForShe campaign, which aims to motivate men and boys to end gender equality. At the launch, she gave a pretty good speech on the misconceptions of feminism. “My recent research has shown me that ‘feminism’ has become an unpopular word. Women are choosing not to identify as feminists…Why has the word become such an unpopular one?” she asked. “I think it is right I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decisions that affect my life. I think it is right that socially, I am afforded the same respect as men.”
She also argued that gender equality is a man’s issue too. “I’ve seen young men suffering from illness, unable to ask for help for fear it will make them less of a man …I’ve seen men fragile and insecure by a distorted sense of what constitutes male success. Men don’t have the benefits of equality, either. We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes but I can see that they are.”
Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com4. Claire Danes
Claire Danes sees no issues with defining herself as a feminist. In an interview with Glamor magazine from back in January 2014, she talked about feminism, the movie industry and the blatant inequality that still exists there. Even though women have come a long way, she thinks women are really underrepresented in Hollywood and she probably has a very valid point!
“I am a feminist. And I’m so glad that [Girls creator and star] Lena Dunham exists, because she is one too, and she’s quite vocal about it. Yes, women have more freedom and more influence than ever, but it’s hardly equal. It’s just not. It’s really f**king crazy. I’m sorry I’m cursing. But it’s wild that women are underrepresented [in Hollywood]. I have real anxiety about directing, and that’s something to question and challenge and correct,” the “Homeland” star said. She seems rather a passionate off-screen, which makes her a great advocate for equal rights.
Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com3. Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler isn’t just hilarious – she’s also an advocate for equal rights. In an interview with Elle magazine, she talked about feminism and how perplexing it is that so many women today back away from the term. “But then they go on to explain what they support and live by – it’s feminism exactly. I think some big actors and musicians feel like they have to speak to their audience and that word is confusing to their audience. But I don’t get it. That’s like someone being like, ‘I don’t really believe in cars, but I drive one every day and I love that it gets me places and makes life so much easier and faster and I don’t know what I would do without it.’ But that’s everyone else’s trip, not mine,” she said.
This “Parks and Recreation” star is easily one of our favorite celebrity feminists – she’s clever, funny and beautiful.
Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com2. Ellen Page
Ellen Page knows what a feminist is and she has no problems identifying as one. She has always been a strong, outspoken advocate for women’s rights. In an interview with The Guardian in 2013, she talked about celebrities and their irrational fear of feminism. Her stance might be a little extreme than some of the other celebrities on our list, but it sounds like she knows what she’s talking about, so all the power to her.
“But I don’t know why people are so reluctant to say they’re feminists. Maybe some women just don’t care. But how could it be any more obvious that we still live in a patriarchal world when feminism is a bad word?” the tiny Canadian actress asked. “Feminism always gets associated with being a radical movement – good. It should be. A lot of what the radical feminists [in the 1970s] were saying, I don’t disagree with it.”
Featureflash / Shutterstock.com1. Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart thinks that it is pretty ridiculous that there are women out there who don’t consider themselves feminists. “That’s such a strange thing to say, isn’t it? Like, what do you mean? Do you not believe in equality for men and women? I think it’s a response to overly-aggressive types. There are a lot of women who feel persecuted and go on about it, and I sometimes am like, ‘Honestly, just relax, because now you’re going in the other direction,’” she told The Daily Beast.
In the same interview, the former “Twilight” star also discussed some of the double standards in the movie business. “In America, there are way more male filmmakers than female ones, and they want to tell more masculine stories. Most of our great films that we’re proud of, you’ve got Bob De Niro, Jack Nicholson, and the bravado is overwhelming. And that’s still going on. I read a million scripts and people say I choose my scripts carefully, but it’s just so obvious when the role is different, and complex, and not some typical, archetypal girl, because they’re so rare. Not to sound cliché, but it’s a male-dominated and driven business,” she said.
Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com